Approximative shape. IV: \(UV^ n\)-maps and the Vietoris-Smale theorem (Q1110861)

Let \({\mathcal K}\) be a class of pairs of spaces. An approximative inverse system map \(f=(f_ b,\phi): (X_ a,p_{a'a},U_ a)_{a\in A}\to (Y_ b,q_{b'b},V_ b)_{b\in B}\) is said to have the approximative lifting property with respect to \({\mathcal K}\) provided each admissible pair (a,b)\(\in A\times B\) (i.e. \(\phi\) (b)\(\leq a)\) admits an admissible pair \((a_ 0,b_ 0)\geq (a,b)\) with the following property: For any \((K,K_ 0)\in {\mathcal K}\) and any two maps g: \(K\to Y_{b_ 0}\), h: \(K_ 0\to X_{a_ 0}\) such that \(f_{b_ 0}p_{a_ 0\phi (b_ 0)}h\), \(g| K_ 0\) are \(star(V_{b_ 0})\)-close, there exists a map H: \(K\to X_ a\) such that \(p_{a_ 0a}h\), \(H| K_ 0\) are \(star(U_ a)\)-close and \(q_{b_ 0b}g\), \(f_ bp_{a\phi (b)}H\) are \(star(V_ b)\)-close. Via approximative resolutions, this concept also applies to maps of spaces f: \(X\to Y\). Any map having the approximative lifting property with respect to \(\{(*,\emptyset),(D^ 1,S^ 0),...,(D^{n+1},S^ n)\},\) where \(D^ k=k\)-cell and \(S^{k-1}=\partial D^ k\), is called approximatively n-connected \((=AC^ n)\). The crucial property of \(AC^ n\)-maps is that for each *\(\in X\), the induced \(pro\)-\(\pi_ k(X,*)\to pro\)-\(\pi_ k(Y,f(*))\) is an isomorphism for \(k=0,...,n\) and an epimorphism for \(k=n+1\); i.e. the \(AC^ n\)-maps are ``unpointed n- equivalences'' in a shape theoretic sense. Next, call a space X \(AC^ n\) (or \(UV^ n)\) if \(pro\)-\(\pi_ k(X,*)=0\) for \(k=0,...,n\) and each *\(\in X\). The author gives a characterization of \(AC^ n\)-spaces by an ``approximative extension property''. The main application is the following result (which immediately yields a useful generalization of the known Vietoris-Smale theorems to paracompact spaces): A closed surjection f: \(X\to Y\) between paracompact spaces is an \(AC^ n\)-map iff \(f^{- 1}(y)\) is \(AC^ n\) for each \(y\in Y\).