Semigroup structures on derived limits (Q2640939)

Let X and Y be compact metric spaces. Consider a strong shape morphism \(\alpha: X\to Y\) which induces an isomorphism \(\theta\) (\(\alpha\)): \(X\to Y\) in the shape category where \(\theta\) : ssh\(\to sh\) is the natural functor. When is \(\alpha\) itself an isomorphism in the strong shape category? This paper shows that this problem is related to defining a binary operation on a certain derived limit of a sequence of nonabelian groups. Let \(\Gamma\) (X) be the semigroup of all strong shape morphisms \(\alpha\in ssh(X,X)\) inducing the identity in the shape category, \(\theta (\alpha)=id\in sh(X,X)\). Then it is shown that there is a bijection \(\Gamma\) (X) \(\approx \lim_{\leftarrow}^ 1 \pi_ 1(U^ X_ n,j_ n).\) The function space \(U^ X_ n\) has \(j_ n: X\subset U_ n\) as base point. It is shown that there is a semigroup structure on the above derived limit. The resulting bijection is an algebraic isomorphism. In the case that the groups in the above sequence are all solvable, then the semigroup structure is shown to be a group. Applications are given to the shape classification problem stated above.