Monic representations of finite higher-rank graphs

In this paper we define the notion of monic representation for the $C^*$-algebras of finite higher-rank graphs with no sources, and undertake a comprehensive study of them. Monic representations are the representations that, when restricted to the commutative $C^*$-algebra of the continuous functions on the infinite path space, admit a cyclic vector. We link monic representations to the $Lambda$-semibranching representations previously studied by Farsi, Gillaspy, Kang, and Packer, and also provide a universal representation model for nonnegative monic representations.