autohomomorphisms

Autohomomorphisms are a concept in abstract algebra, specifically within the study of algebraic structures. An autohomomorphism is a homomorphism of an algebraic structure onto itself. In simpler terms, it's a function that maps the elements of a set to elements within the same set, while preserving the structure's operations. For example, in a group, an autohomomorphism would be a function f such that for any two elements a and b in the group, f(a * b) = f(a) * f(b), where * represents the group operation.

The set of all autohomomorphisms of an algebraic structure forms a group under the operation of composition. This group is known as the automorphism group of the structure. Automorphisms are a special case of autohomomorphisms where the mapping is also bijective (both injective and surjective). However, the term autohomomorphism is sometimes used interchangeably with automorphism, particularly in contexts where the distinction is not crucial or is implicitly understood. The study of autohomomorphisms and automorphisms is fundamental to understanding the symmetries and internal structure of various algebraic objects, such as groups, rings, fields, and vector spaces.