Permutable pairs of quasi-uniformities (Q536046)

Let \(q(X)\) be the complete lattice of all quasi-uniformities on a given non-void set \(X\) (partially ordered by set-theoretic inclusion \(\subseteq\)). In the paper under review, the authors continue their research programme, launched with [Topology Appl. 153, No.~16, 3140--3156 (2006; Zbl 1119.54018)], of studying the structure of the lattice \((q(X),\subseteq)\), and start investigating permutable pairs of quasi-uniformities, that is, pairs of quasi-uniformities \({\mathcal U}, {\mathcal V}\in q(X)\) such that \({\mathcal U}\circ{\mathcal V}={\mathcal V}\circ{\mathcal U}\). Specifically, they study general permutable pairs of quasi-uniformities, permutable complements of a quasi-uniformity \(\mathcal U\in q(X)\) (that is, complements \(\mathcal V\) of \(\mathcal U\) in \(q(X)\) such that \(\mathcal V\) and \(\mathcal U\) permute) and quasi-uniformities that permute with their conjugate. In particular, they show the following: (1) two quasi-uniformities \({\mathcal U}\) and \({\mathcal V}\) permute if and only if both \({\mathcal U}\circ{\mathcal V}\) and \({\mathcal V}\circ{\mathcal U}\) are quasi-uniformities, (2) if \(\mathcal V\) is a permutable complement of a quasi-uniformity \(\mathcal U\in q(X)\) then there is a maximal permutable complement of \(\mathcal U\) finer than \(\mathcal V\) in \(q(X)\), and (3) for \(\mathcal U\) the Pervin or the locally finite covering quasi-uniformity of a topological space \(X\), \(\mathcal U\) permutes with its conjugate if and only if \(X\) is normal and extremally disconnected.