Different types of topological complexity based on higher homotopic distance (Q6113243)

Let \(\operatorname{TC}(X)\) denote the Farber topological complexity of a topological space \(X\). As a generalization, the reviewer in [\textit{Y. B. Rudyak}, Topology Appl. 157, No. 5, 916--920 (2010; Zbl 1187.55001)] suggested a higher topological complexity \(\operatorname{TC}_n(X), n=2,3,4, \dots\), such that \(\operatorname{TC}_2(X)=\operatorname{TC}(X)\). Furthermore, \textit{R. Short} [ibid. 248, 7--23 (2018; Zbl 1403.55002)] introduced a relative topological complexity \({\operatorname{TC}}(X,A)\), defined for topological pairs \((X,A)\) with \(A\subset X\) and so that \(\operatorname{TC}(X,X)\) coincides with the Farber complexity \(\operatorname{TC}(X)\). In the present paper, the authors propose a hybrid (and generalization) of two previous versions, i.e. the numerical invariant \(\operatorname{TC}_n(X,A)\), the relative higher topological complexity such that Short's \(\operatorname{TC}(X,A)\) coincides with \(\operatorname{TC}_2(X,A)\) and Rudyak's \(\operatorname{TC}_n(X)\) coincides with \(\operatorname{TC}_n(X,X)\). The definition looks like this. Let \(X\) be a path connected space and \(A\subset X\). Let \(J_n\) denote the wedge of closed intervals \([0, 1]_1, \dots, [0, 1]_n\) such that the first points of \([0, 1]_i\) are identified and \(1_i\) denotes the unit in \([0, 1]_i\). Set \[ P^n_{X.A} = \{\alpha \in X^{J_n} : \alpha (0) \in X, \alpha(1_1), \dots, \alpha(1_n) \in A\} \subset X^{J_n }. \] Set the fibration \(e_n: P^n_{X.A} \to X^n\) by setting \(e_n(\alpha) = (\alpha(1_1), \dots, \alpha(1_n))\). Now \(\operatorname{TC}_n(X,A)=\operatorname{secat}(e_n)\). Furthermore, relative higher topological complexity \(\operatorname{TC}_n(X,A)\) can also be defined by a higher homotopic distance (Theorem 3.14). Some corollaries and examples are considered.