Outer measures on the real line by weak selections (Q2510987)

Let \(X\) be an infinite set. A function \(f: [X]^2\to X\) is called a \textit{weak selection} if \(f(F)\in F\) for each \(F\in [X]^2\). If \(f\) is a weak selection and \(\{ x,y\}\in [X]^2\) then \(x<_f y\) if \(f({x,y})=x\), and \(x\leq_f y\) if either \(x<_f y\) or \(x=y\). For \(a,b\in X\) the set \((a,b]_f=\{ x\in X: a<_f x\leq_f b\}\) is called a \textit{semi-open \(f\)-interval}. The authors consider weak selections on the real line \(\mathbb{R}\). For a given weak selection \(f\) they define the following function on \(P(\mathbb{R})\): \(\lambda^\ast_f(A)=\inf\{ \sum_{n\in\mathbb{N}}|b_n-a_n| : A\subset\bigcup_{n\in\mathbb{N}}(a_n,b_n]_f\}\) if there exists a countable cover of \(A\) by semi open \(f\)-intervals, and \(\lambda^\ast_f(A)=\infty\) if such a cover does not exist. This function is an outer measure on \(\mathbb{R}\). Clearly the classical Lebesgue outer measure can be considered as \(\lambda^\ast_f\) for the weak selection \(f\) defined as \(f(\{ x,y\})=x\) iff \(x<y\). In the first chapter the authors prove some general properties of such outer measures. In the second chapter they give several examples comparing \(\lambda^\ast_f\) with the Lebesgue outer measure and showing how the analytical properties of \(\lambda^\ast_f\) interact with the combinatorial properties of the weak selection \(f\). The paper contains several interesting open questions concerning \(f\)-outer measures.