On continuous capacities (Q1891935)

Given a Choquet capacity \(\gamma\) on a balayage space \(X\), the author defines an `\(\alpha\)-capacity' (which is not the classical \(\alpha\)- capacity!) by putting \(\alpha (K)= \gamma (\beta (K))\) for every compact \(K\), where \(\beta (K)\) is the essential base of \(K\). Assuming that compact sets are polar if and only if they have zero \(\gamma\)-capacity, he proves the equivalence of the statements (i) \(\alpha\) is a Choquet capacity, (ii) \(\alpha= \gamma\), and (iii) all semipolar sets are polar. He also shows that, if \(\gamma\) is derived from a kernel (a nonnegative, lower semicontinuous function on \(X\times X\)) in the standard way, then the corresponding \(\alpha\)-capacity coincides with the corresponding continuous capacity (the capacity derived from the kernel using only continuous potentials). It follows that a continuous capacity is a Choquet capacity if and only if \(X\) satisfies the axiom of polarity.