Abstract
A semigroup S is called collapsing if there exists a positive integer n such that for every subset of n elements in S at least two distinct words of length n on these letters are equal in S. Let U(A) denote the group of units of an associative algebra A over an infinite field of characteristic p > 0. We show that if A is unitally generated by its nilpotent elements then the following conditions are equivalent: U(A) is collapsing; U(A) satisfies some semigroup identity; U(A) satisfies an Engel identity; A satisfies an Engel identity when viewed as a Lie algebra; and, A satisfies a Morse identity. The characteristic zero analogue of this result was proved by the author in a previous paper.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author's research is supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.