Density and unique decomposition theorems for the lattice of cellular classes (Q1424115)

In this paper the authors study the properties of the lattice formed by cellular classes (classes of pointed spaces closed under weak equivalences, arbitrary wedges and pointed homotopy pushouts). For a topological space \(X\), the smallest cellular class containing \(X\) is denoted by \(C(X)\) and a partial order relation is defined by \(X \ll Y\) if \(Y\in C(X)\). The authors investigate the subpartial order sets \(\beta\) (the family of cellular classes of strictly simply-connected finite CW-complexes) and \(\beta_{0}\) (the corresponding family for strictly simply-connected c-finite rational spaces). For rational spaces they prove a unique decomposition theorem, a density theorem and the existence of infinitely many non-comparable elements. After the study of the properties of irreducible spaces and irreducible decompositions they also give interesting tools to construct strict cellular inequalities. For \(\beta_{0}\) the first theorem of the paper gives an affirmative answer to the density problem. They also show that there are infinitely many non-comparable elements in this poset. In order to prove the rational density they first prove a unique decomposition theorem.