Injective metrizability and the duality theory of cubings (Q2292420)

A metric space \(X\) is injective if any non-expansive map from some space \(A\) into \(X\) can be extended to whatever space that admits an isometric embedding of \(A\). This concept was studied by Isbell, who showed that each metric space embeds into an injective space, and the minimal space with that property, called the injective envelope, is unique [\textit{J. R. Isbell}, Comment. Math. Helv. 39, 65--76 (1964; Zbl 0151.30205)]. Injective envelopes have been rediscovered under the name ``tight spans'' by \textit{A. W. M. Dress} [Adv. Math. 53, 321--402 (1984; Zbl 0562.54041)]. A cubing is a cubical complex which is non-positively curved and simply connected. This carries the natural structure of a metric space from the \(\ell_\infty\)-metric on each cube. In the paper under review the authors show that any complete pointed Gromov-Hausdorff limit of locally-finite cubings is injective. The article also comprises a survey.