Sequential properties of lexicographic products (Q2447133)

In what follows, \(X\) denotes a Tychonoff (i.e., completely regular, Hausdorff) topological space. Let \(C(X)\) be the ring of all real valued continuous functions defined on \(X\). Each \(f \in C(X)\) defines a \textit{zeroset} of the form \(Z(f) = \{x \in X: f(x) = 0\}\). The complement of a zeroset is a \textit{cozeroset}. A point \(x \in X\) is said to be a \textit{\(P\)-point} (an \textit{almost \(P\)-point}) if every \(G_\delta\)-set or every zeroset containing \(x\) is a neighbourhood of \(x\) (has nonempty interior), and \(X\) is called a \textit{\(P\)-space} (an \textit{almost \(P\)-space}) if every point of \(X\) is a \(P\)-point (an almost \(P\)-point). A point \(p \in \beta X\) is said to be an \textit{\(F\)-point} if the ideal \(O^p = \{f \in C(X): p \in \mathrm{int}_{\beta X}\mathrm{cl}_{\beta X} Z(f)\}\) is prime, where \(\beta X\) is the Stone-Čech compactification of \(X\). A space \(X\) is said to be an \textit{\(F\)-space} if every point of \(\beta X\) is an \(F\)-point. It is well-known that \(X\) is an \(F\)-space if, and only if, every cozeroset is \(C^*\)-embedded in \(X\). A \textit{quasi \(F\)-space} is a space in which every dense cozeroset is \(C^*\)-embedded. A \textit{linearly ordered topological space} (or \textit{LOTS}) is a triple \((X,\tau,<)\), where \(<\) is a linear ordering on \(X\) and \(\tau\) is the usual open interval topology defined by \(<\). It is well-known that a LOTS is a normal Hausdorff space. If \((W,\preccurlyeq)\) is a well-ordered set and \(\{(X_\alpha,\leqslant_\alpha): \alpha \in W\}\) is a family of linearly ordered sets, the \textit{lexicographic product} of such a family is the cartesian product \(\prod_{\alpha \in W} X_\alpha\) with the linear order \(<\) defined in the natural way: if \(x = (x_\alpha)_{\alpha \in W}\neq y = (y_\alpha)_{\alpha \in W}\), then \(x < y\) if \(x_\sigma <_\sigma y_\sigma\), where \(\sigma \in W\) is the first element of \(\{\alpha \in W: x_\alpha \neq y_\alpha\}\). The aim of the authors is to reveal the importance of almost \(P\)-points in the context of sequential properties of lexicographic products. Typical results of the paper under review are: \((i)\) The authors give a characterization of almost \(P\)-points of a LOTS in terms of sequences and use this characterization to show that in the class of LOTSs quasi-\(F\) spaces and almost \(P\)-spaces coincide. \((ii)\) A LOTS \(X\) is a sequential space (i.e., every sequentially closed subset of \(X\) is closed) if, and only if, every almost \(P\)-point of \(X\) is an isolated point. \((iii)\) Let \(X_n\) be a LOTS with first and and last elements. Then the lexicographic product \(\prod_{n = 1}^{\infty} X_n\) is sequential if, and only if, each \(X_n\) is. \((iv)\) Let \(X_n\) be a LOTS without first and last elements. Then the lexicographic product \(\prod_{n = 1}^{\infty} X_n\) is sequential. \((v)\) A lexicographical product \(\prod_{\alpha < \omega_1} X_\alpha\) is never a sequential space.