\(\omega^*\) has (almost) no continuous images (Q1288486)

If \(X\) is a space then \(X^*\) denotes the Čech-Stone remainder \(\beta X\smallsetminus X\). It is easy to show that if \(X\) is the topological sum of a compact space \(K\) and an arbitrary space \(Y\) then \(X^*\) and \(Y^*\) are canonically homeomorphic. In short, \(X^*\) is \(Y^*\). A Parovičenko space is a compact zero-dimensional \(F\)-space of weight continuum in which every nonempty \(G_\delta\)-subset has infinite interior. It is known that the Continuum Hypothesis (CH) is equivalent to the statement that, up to homeomorphism, \(\omega^*\) is the only Parovičenko space. It is also known that if \(X\) is a noncompact locally compact, zero-dimensional, \(\sigma\)-compact space with weight at most continuum then \(X^*\) is a Parovičenko space. So under CH, all remainders of such spaces are homeomorphic. It can also be shown that under CH every compact space of weight at most continuum is a continuous image of \(\omega^*\). The statement that all compact spaces of weight at most continuum are a continuous image of \(\omega^*\) is however not equivalent to CH. The authors call \(X\) \(\omega\)-like if it is the topological sum of \(\omega\) and a compact space. In this interesting paper they show that if \(X\) is noncompact, locally compact and \(\sigma\)-compact and if \(X^*\) is a continuous image of \(\omega^*\) then under the Open Colouring Axiom, \(X\) is \(\omega\)-like. They prove that if \(X\) is locally compact, \(\sigma\)-compact, noncompact and not \(\omega\)-like then \(X^*\) maps onto \(D^*\) or \(H^*\). Here \(D= \omega\times (\omega+1)\) and \(H=[0,\infty)\). Then they prove that under OCA, if \(\omega^*\) maps onto \(H^*\) then it also maps onto \(D^*\). They remark that they do not know whether this holds in ZFC. Then they prove that a continuous surjection from \(\omega^*\) onto \(D^*\) cannot have a very simple structure, but under OCA it has a simple structure. So it cannot exist under OCA, which finishes the proof. Good use is made of \textit{B. Veličković}'s paper [Topology Appl. 49, No. 1, 1-13 (1993; Zbl 0785.03033)].