Spaces of orderings and separation of connected components of real varieties by polynomials (Q1899096)

Let \(X_T\) be the topological space consisting of all orderings of \(A\) lying over \(T\) (where \(T\) is a proper preordering in a ring \(A\)) and let \(CX_T\) be the space of connected components of \(X_T\). \(G_T\) is the factor group \[ G_T= \{a\in A: a\neq_P 0 \text{ for all } P\in X_T\}/ \{a\in A: a>_P 0 \text{ for all } P\in X_T\}. \] The paper deals with the structure of the pairing \(G_T\times CX_T\to \{1,-1\}\). A simple axiom on \(T\) sufficient (but not necessarily) for \((CX_T, G_T)\) to be a space of orderings is given. The author proves a general separation result, holding for any ring \(A\) and any preordering \(T\subseteq A\), giving necessary and sufficient conditions, in terms of local 4-element fans, for a given continuous function \(f: CX_T\to \{1,-1\}\) to be represented by an element of \(G_T\). It is proven that, in general, there are no constraints placed on the local 4-element fans.