Solution of Ponomarev's problem of condensation onto compact sets (Q2221970)

A condensation is a continuous bijection between topological spaces, or, if one identifies domain and image, passing to a smaller topology on the same set. The main question, due to Alexandroff, is when a Hausdorff space has a condensation to a compact Hausdorff space. A related problem is which compact Hausdorff spaces are \(a\)-spaces, which means that every co-countable subspace has a condensation to a compact Hausdorff space. Compact metric spaces are \(a\)-spaces, as are compact first-countable zero-dimensional and compact ordered spaces. Ponomarev asked whether perfectly normal compact spaces are \(a\)-spaces. In [\textit{E. G. Pytkeev}, Sov. Math., Dokl. 26, 162--165 (1982; Zbl 0529.54009); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 265, 819--823 (1982)] the second author showed that first-countability (points are \(G_\delta\)) does not suffice. The present paper is devoted to the construction of a counterexample to Ponomarev's full question, under the assumption of the Continuum Hypothesis.