Universal metric spaces and extension dimension (Q5936522)

For any CW-complex \(K\) and topological space \(X\), one may write \(\dim X\leq K\) to mean that \(K\) is an absolute extensor for \(X\). This is equivalent to the statement that for any closed subspace \(A\) of \(X\) and map \(f:A\rightarrow K\), there exists a map \(F:X\rightarrow K\) extending \(f\). Other notations include e-\(\dim X\leq K\), \(K\in\text{AE}(X)\), and \(X\tau K\). In the reviewed work, \(K\) will always be countable. Questions about universal metrizable spaces \(X\) with respect to the property \(\dim X\leq K\) are explored and results are obtained. In [\textit{W. Olszewski}, ibid. 61, No. 3, 293-299 (1995; Zbl 0823.54027)] it was proved that always such universal spaces \(X\) exist in the class of separable metrizable spaces. Later this was improved by M. Levin to include metrizable spaces of a given weight. This paper will give us such spaces with even stronger properties. Let us state the main result, Theorem 1. For any countable CW-complex \(K\) and cardinal number \(\tau\geq\omega\), there exists a completely metrizable space \(X\) and a \(K\)-soft map \(f:X\rightarrow l_2(\tau)\) satisfying the following properties: (a) \(X\) has weight \(\leq\tau\), and \(\dim X\leq K\). (b) \(X\) is an absolute extensor for all normal spaces \(Y\) with \(Y\in\alpha(K)\). (c) \(f\) is strongly \((K,\tau)\)-universal, i.e., for any open cover \(\mathcal U\) of \(X\), any (complete) metric space \(Z\) of weight \(\leq\tau\) with \(\dim Z\leq K\), and any map \(g:Z\rightarrow X\), there exists a (closed) embedding \(h:Z\rightarrow X\) which is \(\mathcal U\)-close to \(g\) and with \(f\circ g=f\circ h\). To say that a normal space \(Y\) lies in \(\alpha(K)\), Definition 2.5 of [\textit{L. R. Rubin}, ibid. 40, No. 3, 233-263 (1991; Zbl 0773.55002)] means that for every map \(f\) from a closed subset \(A\) of \(Y\) to \(K\) which extends to a neighborhood of \(A\) in \(Y\), there exists a map \(F:Y\rightarrow K\) which extends \(f\).