Maps and \(f\)-normal spaces (Q2502991)

Let \(\beta X\) and \(\nu X\) denote the Stone-Čech compactification and the Hewitt realcompactification of the Tychonoff space \(X\), respectively. Then \(X\) is said to be nearly realcompact if \(\beta X \setminus\nu X\) is dense in \(\beta X \setminus X\). A continuous surjection \(f:X\to Y\) is called hyper-real if its Stone extension \(f^\beta: \beta X\to\beta Y\) satisfies \(f^\beta[\beta X\setminus \nu X]\subseteq \beta Y\setminus\nu Y\), and it is called \(\varepsilon\)-perfect if \((f^\beta)^{-1}(y)\subseteq X\cup\text{int}_{\beta X}(\nu X)\) for each \(y\in Y\). (This generalizes a well-known characterization of perfect maps.) A subset \(F\) of \(X\) is a fast set if \(\text{cl}_{\beta X}F \subseteq X\cup\text{int}_{\beta X} (\nu X)\), and a continuous surjection \(f:X\to Y\) is called a fast map if it takes fast sets of \(X\) to closed sets of \(Y\). This paper is devoted to examining the relationships among these concepts. Many results are modeled on those of \textit{M. C. Rayburn} in [Pac. J. Math. 79 (2), 549--561 (1978; Zbl 0398.54005)]. Examples: the image of a nearly realcompact space under a hyper-real map is nearly realcompact; a map is \(\varepsilon\)-perfect iff pre-images of fast sets are fast. None of this is deep, but much of it is interesting.