On the fixed-point theory for noncompact maps and spaces. I (Q1899883)

One of the most famous results of topological fixed-point theory is the Lefschetz-Hopf fixed-point theorem. Many generalizations of this theorem to various classes of maps and spaces were obtained in the last decades. Compactness plays an essential role in these generalizations. The author shows here how the classical compactness conditions may be weakened to conditions which are necessary or almost necessary. The author has recently proved that there exist some other nontrivial Lefschetz noncompact spaces and non-compact spaces with the fixed-point property [Topological methods in fixed point theory: Tikhonov products and noncompact Lefschetz spaces, Diss., Ural Univ., Ekaterinburg 1986; Fixed-point theorems on products of spaces I, Studies in functional analysis and its applications, Ural Univ. Ekaterinburg, 72-83 (1985); On Lefschetz spaces, Pure Appl. Problems Math. I, Tartu, 120-122 (1985); The fixed point property on products and noncompact Lefschetz spaces, V. Tiraspol Symp. Gen. Topology and its Appl., Kishinev, 194-195 (1985)]. These results give rise to the following interesting problems (all polyhedra are assumed to have the metric or Whitehead topology): (P1) Characterize the contractible polyhedra having the fixed-point property. (P2) Characterize the polyhedra which are Lefschetz spaces. (P3) Characterize the metric AR's having the fixed-point property. (P4) Characterize the metric ANR's which are Lefschetz spaces. In this paper the author completely solves problem (P1) and gives a partial solution to problems (P2)--(P4). A topological ray means a space homeomorphic to the half-open interval \([0,1)\). It may be noted that a normal space having the fixed-point property does not contain a topological ray as a closed subset. A closed subset which is a topological ray is called a closed ray. A topological space that does not contain a closed ray is called a rayless space. Hence the property of being a rayless space is necessary for the fixed-point property in the class of normal spaces. It may be noted that in all papers except the above cited papers of the author [loc. cit.] and [the author, Studies in functional analysis and topology, Collect. Sci. Works, Sverdlovsk, 91-97 (1990; Zbl 0785.54041)] the property of being a rayless space implies compactness of the space and then the classical results on fixed points are used. On the other hand, several examples such as the product of the hedgehog with a compact contractible polyhedron or the Tikhonov cube show that the absence of a closed ray in a space with an additional structure implies the fixed-point property or the property of being a Lefschetz space. Using this clear topological property the author completely solves problem (P1). Theorem: A contractible polyhedron has the fixed-point property if and only if it is a rayless space.