Torus-like continua which are not self-covering spaces (Q2577128)

A compact connected space \(Y\) is a self-covering space (or h-connected), if whenever \(f:X \to Y\) is a finite-sheeted covering map and \(X\) is connected, then \(X\) and \(Y\) are homeomorphic. It is well-known that the circle \(S^1\), and even more, the finite products of circles are simple examples of self-covering spaces. Recently, \textit{V. Matijević} [Rev. Mat. Complut. 16, No. 1, 311--327 (2003; Zbl 1060.57003)] proved that all solenoids, i.e., the inverse limits of inverse sequences of circles with finite-sheeted covering bonding maps, are self-covering spaces (these spaces are circle-like continua). In the present paper the authors answer the following question in the negative: Are the limits of inverse sequences of self-covering spaces with open surjective (e.g. covering) bonding maps also self-covering? Precisely, for each prime \(p > 2\) and each non-quadratic \(p\)-adic integer, the authors construct an example of a torus-like continuum \(Y\), which is the inverse limit of an inverse sequence of 2-dimensional tori with \(p\)-sheeted covering bonding maps. Moreover, \(Y\) admits three 4-sheeted covering maps \(f_{0}:Y \to Y\), \(f_{1}:X_{1}\to Y\), \(f_{2}:X_{2}\to Y\) and a \(2p\)-sheeted covering map \(f_{3}:X_{3}\to Y\) such that the spaces \(Y\), \(X_{1}\), \(X_2\) and \(X_3\) are pairwise non-homeomorphic. These spaces are obtained in the same way as \(Y\). In particular, it follows that \(Y\) is not a self-covering space. This example shows that the class of self-covering spaces is not closed under the operation of forming inverse limits with open surjective bonding maps. Note that all mentioned spaces are compact Abelian groups and all covering maps are continuous homomorphisms. Such a description and its consequences can be found in another paper of the first and the third author.