When a compact (countably compact) set is closed (Q1872885)

No separation axioms are required unless explicitly noted, so, for example, a ``normal'' space is not required to be \(T_1\) and need not have any disjoint nonempty closed sets. A space \(X\) is said to be \(S_2\) (\(S_1\)) provided that whenever \(x, y\in X\) and one of those points, say \(x\), has a neighborhood not containing the other point, \(y\), then \(x\) and \(y\) have a pair of disjoint neighborhoods (then \(y\) has a neighborhood not containing \(x\)). The authors continue and add to their study of \(S_1\)- and \(S_2\)-spaces necessary and sufficient conditions for a compact (countably compact) subset of an \(S_2\)- (a Fréchet, \(S_2\))-space \(X\) to be a closed subset of \(X\). They also consider similar conditions where the space \(X\) is assumed to be a normal (Fréchet, normal) space -- insted. In an addendum they note that Fréchet can be replaced by sequential in their various results. One of their theorems is the following: For a countably compact subset \(K\) of a sequential, \(S_2\)-space \(X\), the following are equivalent: \(K\) is closed; either \(K\) or \(K^C\) (the complement of \(K\)) is a union of closed sets; and both \(K\) and \(K^C\) are unions of closed sets. For an article which provided new results about spaces in which every countably compact set is closed, see \textit{Mohammed Ismail} and \textit{Peter Nyikos} [Topology Appl. \textbf{11}, 281-292 (1980; Zbl 0434.54018)].