Inverse limits of covering spaces

Convergence in general topology (sequences, filters, limits, convergence spaces, nets, etc.) (54A20) Homotopy groups, general; sets of homotopy classes (55Q05) Covering spaces and low-dimensional topology (57M10)

Review text

Let \(X\) be a connected and locally path-connected space. A covering sequence is a sequence of covering maps \(\{\rho_i : (E_i, e_i)\rightarrow (X, x_0)\}_{i\in \mathbb{N}}\) such that \(Im(\pi_1(\rho_i)) \leq Im(\pi_1(\rho_j))\) whenever \(j \leq i\). By the lifting theorem for covering spaces, for each pair \(i\), \(j\) with \(j\leq i\), there exists a unique (covering) map \(\sigma_{i,j} : (E_i, e_i)\rightarrow (E_j, e_j)\) such that \(\rho_i = \rho_j \circ \sigma{i,j}\). It follows that \(\sigma_{j,k} \circ \sigma_{i,j} = \sigma_{i,k}\) whenever \(k \leq j \leq i\).\N\NThus a covering sequence uniquely produces an inverse sequence, \(\{E_i,\sigma_{i,j}\}\). Let \(E\) be the inverse limit of \(\{E_i, \sigma_{i,j}\}\), which the authors call a pro-covering space. The inverse limit of the maps \(\rho_i : (E_i, e_i) \rightarrow (X, x_0)\) is a map \(\rho: E \rightarrow X\), which the authors call a pro-covering map. \N\NThe authors first prove that a pro-covering space over a semilocally simply connected, locally path-connected space is locally path-connected if and only iLet \(X\) be a connected and locally path-connected space. A covering sequence is a sequence of covering maps \(\{\rho_i : (E_i, e_i)\rightarrow (X, x_0)\}_{i\in \mathbb{N}}\) such that \(Im(\pi_1(\rho_i)) \leq Im(\pi_1(\rho_j))\) whenever \(j \leq i\). By the lifting theorem for covering spaces, for each pair \(i\), \(j\) with \(j\leq i\), there exists a unique (covering) map \(\sigma_{i,j} : (E_i, e_i)\rightarrow (E_j, e_j)\) such that \(\rho_i = \rho_j \circ \sigma{i,j}\). It follows that \(\sigma_{j,k} \circ \sigma_{i,j} = \sigma_{i,k}\) whenever \(k \leq j \leq i\).\N\NThus a covering sequence uniquely produces an inverse sequence, \(\{E_i,\sigma_{i,j}\}\). Let \(E\) be the inverse limit of \(\{E_i, \sigma_{i,j}\}\), which the authors call a pro-covering space. The inverse limit of the maps \(\rho_i : (E_i, e_i) \rightarrow (X, x_0)\) is a map \(\rho: E \rightarrow X\), which the authors call a pro-covering map. \N\NThe authors first prove that a pro-covering space over a semilocally simply connected, locally path-connected space is locally path-connected if and only if it is a covering space. A subgroup \(H\) of \(\pi_1(X, x_0)\) is called a pro-covering subgroup if there exists a pro-covering map \( \rho: (E, e_0) \rightarrow (X, x_0)\) of \(X\) such that \(H = Im(\pi_1(\rho))\). The main results of the paper are as follows.\N\N\textbf{Theorem 1.} For Peano continua, the pro-covering subgroups are exactly the closed subgroups of the fundamental group with the shape topology.\N\N\textbf{Theorem 2.} Let \(\rho: E \rightarrow X\) be a pro-covering map over a Peano continuum X. If \(E\) is path-connected, then \(E\) is naturally homeomorphic to \(\check{P}X/\pi_1(\rho)(\pi_1(E, e_0))\), where \(\check{P}X\) denotes the space of homotopy classes of based paths in \(X\) endowed with the shape topology.\N\NThe authors mention that over general Peano continua, there can be many pro-covering spaces with path-connected total space which are not coverings. As a consequence, pro-covering maps represent an additional tool for the study of fundamental groups of spaces with non-trivial local topological structure.\N\NEvery pro-covering space is determined by a nested sequence \((H_n)\) of covering subgroups of the fundamental group. If one uses this sequence of subgroups to give a neighborhood basis of the identity element of the fundamental group, then the corresponding pro-covering space is path-connected if and only if the fundamental group is complete with this topology\N\textbf{Theorem 3.} Suppose that \(\rho: (E, e_0) \rightarrow (X, x_0)\) is a pro-covering map. Then \(E\) is path-connected if and only if \(\pi_1(X, x_0)\) is complete relative to \((H_n)\), where \(H_n = \pi_1(\rho_n)(\pi_1(E_n, e_n))\).\N\NThe authors define a pseudo-metric on the set of homotopy classes of based paths in \(X\). The corresponding topology is called the dragon's beard topology. The dragon's beard pseudo-metric restricts to a pseudo-ultrametric on the fundamental group.\N\NThe authors also state some of the known relationships between the different topologies on the space of homotopy classes of based paths and show that, for Peano continua, the lasso, shape, and dragon's beard topologies all agree.f it is a covering space. A subgroup \(H\) of \(\pi_1(X, x_0)\) is called a pro-covering subgroup if there exists a pro-covering map \( \rho: (E, e_0) \rightarrow (X, x_0)\) of \(X\) such that \(H = Im(\pi_1(\rho))\). The main results of the paper are as follows.\N\textbf{Theorem 1.} For Peano continua, the pro-covering subgroups are exactly the closed subgroups of the fundamental group with the shape topology.\N\N\textbf{Theorem 2.} Let \(\rho: E \rightarrow X\) be a pro-covering map over a Peano continuum X. If \(E\) is path-connected, then \(E\) is naturally homeomorphic to \(\check{P}X/\pi_1(\rho)(\pi_1(E, e_0))\), where \(\check{P}X\) denotes the space of homotopy classes of based paths in \(X\) endowed with the shape topology.\N\NThe authors mention that over general Peano continua, there can be many pro-covering spaces with path-connected total space which are not coverings. As a consequence, pro-covering maps represent an additional tool for the study of fundamental groups of spaces with non-trivial local topological structure.\N\NEvery pro-covering space is determined by a nested sequence \((H_n)\) of covering subgroups of the fundamental group. If one uses this sequence of subgroups to give a neighborhood basis of the identity element of the fundamental group, then the corresponding pro-covering space is path-connected if and only if the fundamental group is complete with this topology\N\textbf{Theorem 3.} Suppose that \(\rho: (E, e_0) \rightarrow (X, x_0)\) is a pro-covering map. Then \(E\) is path-connected if and only if \(\pi_1(X, x_0)\) is complete relative to \((H_n)\), where \(H_n = \pi_1(\rho_n)(\pi_1(E_n, e_n))\).\N\NThe authors define a pseudo-metric on the set of homotopy classes of based paths in \(X\). The corresponding topology is called the dragon's beard topology. The dragon's beard pseudo-metric restricts to a pseudo-ultrametric on the fundamental group.\N\NThe authors also state some of the known relationships between the different topologies on the space of homotopy classes of based paths and show that, for Peano continua, the lasso, shape, and dragon's beard topologies all agree.

Cites work

This page was built for publication: Inverse limits of covering spaces

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6956657)