Iliadis absolutes for arbitrary spaces (Q1187251)

The author constructs an `` Iliadis absolute'' \((EX,k_ X)\) for any topological space and derives its basic properties. More specifically, for each topological space \(X\) he constructs a regular extremally disconnected space \(EX\) and a separated \(\theta\)-perfect mapping \(k_ X: EX\to X\) [A ``\(\theta\)-perfect mapping'' is a \(\theta\)-continuous, closed compact irreducible surjection; see ``Extensions and absolutes of Hausdorff spaces'' by \textit{J. Porter} and the reviewer (1987; Zbl 0652.54016) for requisite terminology. A map \(f: Y\to Z\) is called separated if whenever \(a\), \(b\) are distinct points of \(Y\) and \(f(a)=f(b)\), then \(a\) and \(b\) belong to disjoint \(X\)-neighborhoods. The author shows that if \(f: X\to Y\) is a \(\theta\)-continuous closed irreducible surjection then there exists a unique continuous map \(f^*: EX\to EY\) for which \(f\circ k_ X=k_ Y\circ f^*\); consequently the pair \((EX,k_ X)\) is unique up to homeomorphism. Some category-theoretic results are derived. Finally, it is shown that the absolute constructed by \textit{V. M. Ul'yanov} [Mat. Sb. 98(140), 223-254 (1975; Zbl 0316.54024)] and (by other means) \textit{I. R. Shapiro} [Soviet Math., Doklady 17, 147-151 (1976); translation from Doklady Akad. Nauk SSSR 226, 523-526 (1976; Zbl 0345.54008)] is the semiregularization of \(EX\).