Mapping theorems for rigid continua and their inverse limits (Q2675094)

A continuum is a non-empty connected compact metric space. A continuum is non-degenerate if it contains more than one point. A subcontinuum is a subspace of a continuum which itself is also a continuum. A nondegenerate continuum \(X\) is a Cook continuum if for any nondegenerate subcontinuum \(S\) of \(X\) and any non-constant continuous function \(f \colon S \to X\), it follows that \(f(x) = x\), for any \(x\in S\). A nondegenerate continuum \(X\) is rigid if for any continuous surjective function \(f \colon X \to X\), it follows that \(f\) is the identity map. It follows that any Cook continuum is rigid. In the paper under review the authors define certain families of continua, namely stars of Cook continua, paths of Cook continua, and cycles of Cook continua, to obtain new interesting examples of rigid continua. Also mapping theorems for these families are proved. Another important definition introduced by the authors arethat of a \(\frac{1}{n}\)-rigid continuum and the degree of rigidity of a continuum. As main results, the authors give an example of a rigid continuum which is not a Cook continuum and an example of a non-rigid continuum, which is \(\frac{1}{2}\)-rigid. Moreover, the degree of rigidity of a subfamily of the family of stars of Cook continua (resp. of paths of Cook continua and cycles of Cook continua) is obtained. The authors close the paper by applying their results to the theory of inverse limits. They prove that for any continuum \(X\) with finite degree of rigidity, the inverse limit \(\underset{\longleftarrow}{\lim}\{X, f_n\}\) is homeomorphic to \(X\) for any sequence \((f_n)\) of onto continuous bonding functions \(f_n\colon X\to X\).