On size mappings. (Q1414933)

For a continuum \(X\), let \(2^X\) be the hyperspace of nonempty closed subsets of \(X\), with the Hausdorff metric. The diameter map \(D: 2^X\to [0,D(X)]\) is not always an open or a monotone map. For example, if \(S\) is a circle in the plane and the points \(p,q,r\in S\) are vertices of a equilateral triangle, then \(D\) has local minima at \(\{p,q,r\}\), and it is neither monotone nor open. Answering a question by \textit{S. B. Nadler, jun.} in page 472 of his book [Hyperspaces of sets (Monographs and Textbooks in Pure and Applied Mathematics 49, Dekker, New York, Basel) (1978; Zbl 0432.54007)], the authors define a metric on the circle (equivalent with the Euclidean one) for which the diameter map is open and monotone. Generalizing, they consider size maps \(r: 2^X\to [0,r(X)]\) defined as continuous functions satisfying: (a) \(r(\{p\})= 0\) for each \(p\in X\) and (b) \(r(A)\leq r(B)\) if \(A\subset B\). They study conditions under which, for a continuum \(X\), \(2^X\) admits open, monotone or confluent maps. The following question remains open: Does every dendrite (local dendrite, graph, locally connected continuum, \(n\)-dimensional spheres, \(n\geq 2\)) admit an open diameter mapping?