Confluent and related mappings on arc-like continua - an application to homogeneity (Q1075635)

A space X is called confluently homogeneous if for every p,q\(\in X\) there exists a surjective confluent map \(f: X\to X\) with \(f(p)=q\). (A map \(f: X\to Y\) is called confluent if for each subcontinuum Q of Y, each component of \(f^{-1}(Q)\) is mapped onto Q of f.) Similar definitions can be obtained by replacing confluent by open, monotone, etc. The authors prove that for each nondegenerate arc-like continuum X, the following are equivalent. (i) X is homogeneous, (ii) X is openly homogeneous, (iii) X is monotonously homogeneous, (iv) X is confluently homogeneous, (v) X is the pseudo-arc. The concept of pseudo-end point due to R. H. Bing is introduced. A point P of an arc-like continuum X is a pseudo-end point of X if for each neighborhood U of p and for each \(\epsilon >0\) there is an \(\epsilon\)- chain covering X, one of whose end links lies in U. For example it is stated that each nondegenerate arc-like continuum has a pseudo-end point (proof credited to R. H. Bing). The authors show that each monotone or open map between arc-like continua preserves pseudo-ends. They state that it is an open problem whether confluent maps between arc-like continua preserve pseudo-ends. Final results involve a characterization of the pseudo-arc in terms of homogeneity with respect to classes of maps that preserve both ends and pseudo-ends.