Topological homotopy groups (Q953982)

Starting point is the paper by \textit{J. Dugundji} [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 36, 141--143 (1950; Zbl 0037.10202)], who put a topology on \(\pi_1\) and obtained new results related to covering spaces. This has been recently revitalized by several authors, e.g. \textit{D. K. Bliss} [Topology Appl. 124, No.~3, 355--371 (2002; Zbl 1016.57002)] and \textit{P. Fabel} [Topol. Proc. 30, No.~1, 187--195 (2006; Zbl 1125.55007)]. If \(\text{Hom}((S^1,1),(X,x))\) denotes the space of pairs of maps with the compact-open topology, then the topological fundamental group \(\pi^{\text{top}}_1\) is the set \(\pi_1\) equipped with the quotient topology. The authors transfer this construction to higher homotopy groups, i.e. \(\pi^{\text{top}}_n\) is \(\pi_n\) with the quotient topology from the space of maps \(((I^n,\partial I^n),(X,x))\) with the compact-open topology. First they show that \(\pi^{\text{top}}_n\) is a topological group for \(n\geq 1\). Then they examine properties of \(\pi^{\text{top}}_n\), like independency of the base point and behaviour with respect to the product of spaces. Furthermore, they study conditions for \(\pi^{\text{top}}_n\) to be discrete. This happens if \(X\) is an \(n\)-connected metric space independently of the base point.