The capacity of wedge sum of spheres of different dimensions (Q725650): Difference between revisions

The notion of \textit{capacity} \(C(X)\) of a (metric) compactum \(X\) was introduced by \textit{K. Borsuk} [Russ. Math. Surv. 34, No. 6, 24--26 (1979; Zbl 0453.55010)]: \(C(X)\) is the cardinality of the class (actually, the set) of all shape types \(\mathrm{Sh}(Y)\) of compacta \(Y\) such that \(\mathrm{Sh}(Y)\leq\mathrm{Sh}(X)\) (the domination in the shape category). In the case of compacta homotopically equivalent to compact polyhedra (finite \(CW\)-complexes, compact \(ANR\)'s), the condition reduces to homotopy domination. Borsuk's original question ``Is the capacity of a compact polyhedron finite?'' was answered in negative by \textit{M. Mather} [Topology 4, 93--94 (1965; Zbl 0134.42702)]. This has focused the (now non-trivial) ``capacity calculus'' to compact polyhedra and their homotopy domination. Several authors (see the references) have found some sufficient conditions for finite capacity as well as have calculated the capacities of some very special compact polyhedra. In this paper the authors consider the finite wedge sum of spheres \[ X=(\vee_{r_1}\mathbb S^1)\vee\cdots\vee(\vee_{r_m}\mathbb S^m), \] where \(1<\dots<m\in\mathbb N\) and \(r_1,\dots,r_m\in\{0\}\cup\mathbb N\). The main result is that every space dominated by such a wedge sum is homotopy equivalent to such a sum, more precisely: If \(Y\leq X\), \(X\) as above, then \[ Y\simeq(\vee_{s_1}\mathbb S^1)\vee\cdots\vee(\vee_{s_m}\mathbb S^m), \] where \(0\leq s_n\leq r_n\), \(n=1, \dots,m\). As a corollary, the capacity \(C(X)=\Pi^m_{n=1} (r_n+1)\). Finally, as one should expect, the crucial background facts supporting the obtained result were established by \textit{C. T. C. Wall} in his famous article [Ann. Math. (2) 81, 56--69 (1965; Zbl 0152.21902)]. So the sophisticated application of his results is perhaps even more interesting than the obtained capacity result.