Between homeomorphism type and Tukey type (Q2293000)

In this work the author introduces the notion of pin homogeneity for a compact Hausdorff space \(X\). Two points \(a\) and \(b\) in \(X\) are pin equivalent if there exists a compact space \(Y\), a quotient map \(f:Y\to X\), and a homeomorphism \(g:Y\to Y\) such that \(gf^{-1}\{a\}=f^{-1}\{b\}\). \(X\) is pin homogeneuous if every two points in \(X\) are pin equivalent. While it is clear that every homogeneous space is pin homogeneous, it is established that every pair of pin equivalent points are also Tukey equivalent. In the reviewer's opinion this alone makes the study of pin homogeneity very worthwhile, yet the author makes even more of a case for this in this strong, well-written paper. On the one hand pin homogeneity is strong enough so that, as the author establishes, no infinite compact \(F\)-space is pin homogeneous. This generalizes a result of Kunen. On the other hand, pin homogeneity is weak enough so that \(X\times 2^{\chi(X)}\) is pin homogeneous for any compact \(X\), as well as any first countable crowded compact \(X\). The non-homogeneous space \(2^{\omega}\times 2^{\omega_1}_{\text{lex}}\) is shown to be pin homogeneous. It is also shown that for each \(n<\omega\), \(\prod_{m\leq n}2^{\omega_m}_{\text{lex}}\) is pin homogeneous, as well as every closed interval. A following representation theorem is established, providing another reason why pin homogeneity is worth studying: \(a,b\in X\) are pin equivalent iff there exists a symmetric binary relation \(R\) with domain \(X\) such that \(R\) is closed in \(X^2\) and, for all \(x\in X\), we have \(aRx\) iff \(x=b\) and \(bRx\) iff \(x=a\). One important consequence of this is that pin equivalence is transitive. A sampling of some of the questions asked: 1. Is every compact space a continuous image of an open pin homogeneous compact space? 2. Does every compact space have a pin homogeneous power? 3. Is there a compact homogeneous space with points of Tukey type \(\omega\times\omega_1\)? (Note that \(2^{\omega}\times 2^{\omega_1}_{\text{lex}}\) is pin homogeneous with Tukey type \(\omega\times\omega_1\)).