Classifying overlay structures of topological spaces (Q5936531)

The classification of covering projections over a connected locally path-connected base space \(Y\) using the conjugate subgroups of the fundamental group of \(Y\) is a classical result. In 1972, \textit{R. H. Fox} [Fundam. Math. 74, 47-71 (1972; Zbl 0232.55023)] has generalized this result to a classification theorem for overlay structures over an arbitrary connected metric space by replacing \(\pi_1(Y,*)\) with the appropriate shape-theoretic notion, i.e., with the fundamental progroup \(\underline\pi_1(Y,*)\). In the present paper, the authors generalize Fox's result to connected topological spaces. Let \(f:X\to Y\) be a covering mapping with \(({\mathcal A},{\mathcal B})\) a covering pair and \({\mathcal A}=( A^\sigma_B, B\in{\mathcal B},\sigma\in S)\). One supposes that \(Y\) is a connected space. In this case if \(\text{card} (f^{-1}(y))= \text{card} (S)=s\), it is said that \(f\) is an \(s\)-sheeted covering mapping and that \(({\mathcal A},{\mathcal B})\) is an \(s\)-sheeted covering pair. An \(s\)-sheeted covering pair \(({\mathcal A},{\mathcal B})\) for \(f:X\to Y\) is said to be an overlay pair for \(f\) provided \({\mathcal B}\) is a normal covering and the following additional condition is fulfilled: If \(B,B'\in {\mathcal B}\) and \(B\cap B'\neq 0\), then every \(\sigma\in S\) admits a unique \(\sigma'\in S\) such that \(A^\sigma_B \cap A^{\sigma'}_{B'}\neq \emptyset\). A mapping \(f:X\to Y\) between topological spaces is said to be an overlay mapping provided it admits an overlay pair. A mapping of pointed spaces \(f:(X,*)\to (Y,*)\) is a pointed covering mapping (pointed overlay mapping) if \(f:X \to Y\) is a covering (overlay) mapping. If \(({\mathcal A},{\mathcal B})\) and \(({\mathcal A}', {\mathcal B}')\) are \(s\)-sheeted covering (overlay) pairs for \(f\) it is said that the first pair refines the second one, written \(({\mathcal A},{\mathcal B})\leq({\mathcal A}',{\mathcal B}')\), provided, for every \(B\in{\mathcal B}\) there exists a \(B'\in {\mathcal B}'\) such that \(B\subseteq B'\) and for every \(\sigma\in S\), there exists a \(\sigma'\in S\) such that \(A^\sigma_B\subseteq A'{}^{\sigma'}_{B'}\). Then two covering (overlay) pairs for \(f\) are equivalent provided they can be connected by a finite chain of covering (overlay) pairs for \(f\), \(({\mathcal A}_i, {\mathcal B}_i)\), \(i=1,\dots,n\), where for any two consecutive pairs one of the pairs refines the other one. Then a covering structure (overlay structure) \([{\mathcal A},{\mathcal B}]\) for a covering (overlay) mapping \(f\) is an equivalence class of covering (overlay) pairs \(({\mathcal A}, {\mathcal B})\) for \(f\). A covering structure (overlay structure) over a space \(Y\) is a covering (overlay) structure for some mapping \(f:X\to Y\). If \(f':X'\to Y\) is another covering (overlay) mapping over the same space \(Y\) and \([{\mathcal A}', {\mathcal B}']\) is a covering (overlay) structure for \(f'\), is said that the two structures are equivalent if there exists a homeomorphism \(\varphi: X\to X'\) such that \(f'\varphi=f\) and the covering (overlay) structure \([ \varphi^{-1} ({\mathcal A}'),{\mathcal B}']\) coincides with \([{\mathcal A},{\mathcal B}]\). In the same way one defines pointed equivalence of structure of pointed mappings \(f:(X,*)\to (Y,*)\). The notion of overlay structure was introduced by \textit{T. T. Moore} [Fundam. Math. 99, 205-211 (1978; Zbl 0401.57005)] which exhibited examples of overlay mappings which admit different overlay structures. He also noticed that Fox has actually classified overlay structures and not overlay mappings. Now, using ANR-resolutions, an important technique introduced by \textit{S. Mardešić} [Lect. Notes Math. 870, 239-252 (1981; Zbl 0479.54005)] and \textit{P. Mrozik}'s characterization of overlay mappings as pull-backs of covering mappings over ANRs [Glas. Mat., III. Ser. 28, No. 2, 209-226 (1993; Zbl 0809.18002)], the authors of this paper prove the following classification theorems: Theorem 1. For a pointed connected topological space \((Y,*)\) there exists a bijection between the set of all pointed equivalence classes of \(s\)-sheeted indecomposable pointed overlay structures of mappings \(f:(X,*)\to (Y,*)\) and the set of all subgroups of index \(s\) of the fundamental progroups \(\underline\pi_1 (Y, *)\). Theorem 3. For a pointed connected topological space \((Y,*)\) there exists a bijection between the set of all pointed equivalence classes of indecomposable \(s\)-sheeted overlay structures over \((Y,*)\) and the set of all pointed conjugacy classes of transitive representations of the fundamental progroup \(\underline\pi_1(Y,*)\) in the symmetric group \(\Sigma(S)\) with \(\text{card} (S)= s\). Theorem 4. For a pointed connected topological space \(Y\) there exists a bijection between the set of all equivalence classes of \(s\)-sheeted indecomposable overlay structures over \(Y\) and the set of all conjugacy classes of subprogroups of index \(s\) of the fundamental progroup \(\underline\pi_1(Y,*)\), where \(*\) is an arbitrarily chosen point of \(Y\). In addition, the authors exhibit a nice example of a mapping with different overlay structure. Finally, in the well-known style of first author, results on the subject obtained by other authors are in detail discussed: \textit{R. H. Fox} [op.cit.], \textit{P. Mrozik} [op. cit.], \textit{Ş. Koçak} [Note Math. 10, No. 2, 355-362 (1990; Zbl 0772.55008)] and \textit{L. J. Hernández-Paricio} [Fundam. Math. 156, No. 1, 1-31 (1998; Zbl 0906.55008)].