Minimal representations of a finite distributive lattice by principal congruences of a lattice

Abstract

Let the finite distributive lattice $D$ be isomorphic to the congruence lattice of a finite lattice $L$. Let $Q$ denote those elements of $D$ that correspond to principal congruences under this isomorphism. Then $Q$ contains $0,1\in D$ and all the join-irreducible elements of $D$. If $Q$ contains exactly these elements, we say that $L$ is a minimal representations of $D$ by principal congruences of the lattice $L$. We characterize finite distributive lattices $D$ with a minimal representation by principal congruences with the property that $D$ has at most two dual atoms.