Pseudo-path connected homogeneous continua (Q2253798)

A metric continuum \(X\) is weakly chainable provided that it is a continuous image of the pseudo-arc. The continuum \(X\) is pseudo-path connected provided that every pair of its points can be connected by a weakly chainable subcontinuum of \(X\). In this paper, it is observed that weak chainability has the following properties: (1) it is a continuous invariant, (2) it is closed under finite connected unions, (3) it is closed under countable products, (4) the pseudo-arc is a model for weakly chainable continua (all of them are continuous images of the pseudo-arc), and (5) it induces partitions of continua into pseudo-path components. The main result of the paper is the following: If a homogeneous continuum \(X\) is pseudo-path connected, then \(X\) is weakly chainable. That is, if in a homogeneous continuum \(X\) every pair of its points is connected by a continuous image of the pseudo-arc, then \(X\) is a continuous image of the pseudo-arc. The author observes that the corresponding property for the arc does not hold, since some years ago, answering a very important problem, the author in [Am. J. Math. 124, No. 4, 649--675 (2002; Zbl 1003.54022)] gave an example of a one-dimensional, homogeneous, arc-connected continuum which is not locally connected. He also observes that, in the main theorem, the hypothesis that \(X\) is homogeneous is necessary. The paper finishes with the following questions: (1) Let \(X\) be a non-weakly chainable, homogeneous continuum. Is every subcontinuum of a single pseudo-path component of \(X\) contained in a weakly chainable subcontinuum of \(X\)? (2) Does there exist a non-degenerate, homogeneous continuum whose pseudo-path components are singletons?