Connectedness and inverse limits with set-valued functions on intervals (Q2400850)

The function \(f:I\longrightarrow 2^{I}\) is upper semi-continuous if for each \(x\in I\) and each open set \(V\) in \(I\) containing the set \(f(x)\), there is an open set \(U\) in \(I\) containing \(x\) such that if \(y\) is in \(U\), then the set \(f(y)\) is in \(V\). In [\textit{W.T. Ingram}, An introduction to inverse limits with set-valued functions. Berlin: Springer (2012; Zbl 1257.54033)] an example was exhibited which shows that inverse limits with upper semicontinuous set-valued functions, or generalised inverse limits, can fail to be connected, even when the bonding functions are surjective and have connected graphs. It was shown that a generalised inverse limit over intervals generated by surjective bonding functions with connected graphs must contain a large component, one that projects onto each of its graphs, cf. [\textit{I. Banič} and \textit{J. Kennedy}, Topology Appl. 190, 9--21 (2015; Zbl 1321.54045)]. Also, in [\textit{S. Greenwood} and \textit{J. Kennedy}, Fundam. Math. 236, No. 1, 1--43 (2017; Zbl 1370.54017)] the authors characterised generalised inverse limits over intervals whose bonding functions are surjective and have connected graphs, by CC-sequences. In the present paper, the authors introduce the notion of a component base, and show that the existence of a component base is equivalent to the existence of a CC-sequence. Also, they give new results on connectedness of inverse limits and of Mahavier products, and revisit known results that can be simplified by using component bases. In particular, results concerning the size and number of components.