Simple solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation

We study simple set-theoretic solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation that are finite and non-degenerate. Such retractable solutions are fully described and to investigate the irretracble solutions we give a new algebraic method. Our approach includes and extends the work of Joyce for quandles and Castelli for involutive solutions, demonstrating that the simplicity of a solution can be understood through its associated permutation skew left brace. In particular, we show that this skew left brace must have the smallest non-zero ideal, and the quotient by this ideal gives a trivial skew left brace of cyclic type; clearly all simple skew left braces satisfy these assumptions. As an application of our approach we construct and characterise new infinite families of simple solutions that are neither involutive nor quandles. Additionally, we show that our method can be applied to simple skew left braces to generate further families of simple solutions.