On generic topological embeddings (Q7027422)

Cantor's isomorphism theorem and Urysohn's universal space share construction methods later applied by Roland Fraïssé in model theory. Using Fraïssé sequences, it is proved that an embedding of a fixed 0-dimensional compact space \(K\) into the Čech-Stone remainder \(\omega^*\) as a nowhere dense P-set is the unique generic limit in the category of continuous maps from \(K\) to compact metric spaces. Assuming CH, it follows that (1) every compact 0-dimensional F-space of weight \(\mathfrak{c}\) can be embedded as a nowhere dense closed P-set in \(\omega^*\) [\textit{B. Balcar} et al., Bull. Acad. Pol. Sci., Sér. Sci. Math. 28, 295--299 (1980; Zbl 0467.54024)] and (2) every homeomorphism of nowhere dense closed P-sets in \(\omega^*\) can be extended to an autohomeomorphism of \(\omega^*\) and every closed P-set of weight at most \(\mathfrak{c}\) is a retract of \(\omega^*\) [\textit{E. K. van Douwen} and \textit{J. van Mill}, in: Papers on general topology and applications. Proceedings of the seventh summer conference in honor of Mary Ellen Rudin and her work, held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA, June 26 to 29, 1991. New York, NY: The New York Academy of Sciences. 345--350 (1993; Zbl 0806.54020)]. Using ultrametrics, similar results on universality and homogeneity of the space \(\kappa^\kappa\), with \(\kappa\) a regular uncountable cardinal, and the space \(2^\kappa\), with \(\kappa\) a weakly compact cardinal, are obtained.