Detecting isomorphisms in the homotopy category (Q6188357)

Let \(\boldsymbol{Hot}\) denote the homotopy category of spaces, and let \(\boldsymbol{Hot}_{\ast,c}\) denote the homotopy category of pointed connected spaces. Whitehead's theorem [\textit{J. H. C. Whitehead}, Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 55, 213--245 (1949; Zbl 0040.38704); Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 55, 453--496 (1949; Zbl 0040.38801)] claims that, in , the set of spheres jointly reflects isomorphisms. One is naturally led to wonder whether there is a set of spaces in \(\boldsymbol{Hot}\) which jointly reflects isomorphisms. \textit{E. H. Brown jun.} [Ann. Math. (2) 75, 467--484 (1962; Zbl 0101.40603)] established that a functor \[ \boldsymbol{Hot}_{\ast,c}\rightarrow\boldsymbol{Set} \] is representable iff it is half-exact in the sense that it sends coproducts and weak pushouts in \(\boldsymbol{Hot}_{\ast,c}\) to products and weak pullbacks in \(\boldsymbol{Set}\). \textit{A. Heller} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 23, 551--567 (1981; Zbl 0477.55013)] established an abstract representability theorem that if \(\boldsymbol{C}\) is a category with coproducts and weak pushouts and \(\boldsymbol{C}\) contains a bounded set \(\mathcal{G}\) of objects jointly reflecting isomorphisms, then a functor \[ \boldsymbol{C}^{\mathrm{op}}\rightarrow\boldsymbol{Set} \] is representable iff it is half-exact. Heller also gave an example of a half-exact functor \[ \boldsymbol{Hot}^{\mathrm{op}}\rightarrow\boldsymbol{Set} \] which is not representable. He then claimed without proof [loc. cit., Proposition 1.2] that every set of spaces in \(\boldsymbol{Hot}\) is bounded, concluding [loc. cit., Corollary 2.3] that no set of spaces jointly reflects isomorphisms in \(\boldsymbol{Hot}\). This paper shows that it is not true that every set of spaces is bounded, reopening the above question of whether there is a set of spaces jointly reflecting isomorphisms in \(\boldsymbol{Hot}\). The author also gives an independent proof that no set of spaces jointly reflects isomorphisms.