On \(w_{\alpha{}}\)-compactness (Q1201228)

This paper generalizes the concept of \(w\)-compact spaces introduced by the reviewer [Topology Appl. 11, 173-187 (1980; Zbl 0441.54012)] to involve infinite cardinals. Let \(\alpha\) be an infinite cardinal. A topological space \(X\) is called \(w_ \alpha\)-compact iff for each open cover \(\{G_ \lambda\}_{\lambda \in \Lambda}\) of \(X\) there is \(J \subset \Lambda\), \(| J| < \alpha\), such that \(\bigcup_ JG_ \lambda\) is \(\tau\)-dense in \(X\) (i.e., dense in the topology generated by all of cozero-sets in \(X\)). For completely regular spaces, this concept coincides with weak \(\alpha\)-compactness introduced by \textit{A. W. Hager} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 140, 87-94 (1969; Zbl 0192.596)] and for \(\alpha = \aleph_ 0\), with \(w\)-compactness. A space \(X\) is said to be \(\alpha\)- discrete iff the intersection of any family, of cardinality less than \(\alpha\), of open sets is open. The main results generalize the results of the reviewer [loc. cit.] and of Hager [loc. cit.]: (1) A space \(X\) is \(w_ \alpha\)-compact iff the projection \(p_ Y: X\times Y \to Y\) is a \(z\)-map for each \(\alpha\)-discrete space \(Y\). (2) A space \(X\) has the property that \(\tau(X\times Y) = \tau(X) \times \tau(Y)\) for every \(\alpha\)-discrete completely regular space \(Y\) iff each point of \(X\) has a neighborhood \(U\) such that \(\overline{U}\) is \(w_ \alpha\)-compact, where \(\tau\) stands for the Tychonoff reflection.