Inverse sequences, rooted trees and their end spaces (Q712200)

In this paper the authors prove that if the standard real metric is considered on simplicial rooted trees then the category Tower-Set of inverse sequences can be described by means of a homotopy relation akin to the bounded coarse geometry of the naturally associated trees. First, an equivalence of categories between R-trees and ultrametric spaces is proved, which generalizes classical results of Freudenthal ends for locally finite simplicial trees. Then it is proved that there is an equivalence of categories between Tower-Set and the category of rooted simplicial trees with rooted metrically proper non-expansive homotopy classes of rooted metrically proper non-expansive maps. The authors convert the category Tower-Set into a geometrical language involving trees and coarse geometry, giving a new relation to shape theory. Using this approach they give a geometrical characterization of the Mittag-Leffler property in inverse sequences in terms of the metrically proper homotopy type of the corresponding tree and its maximal geodesically complete subtree. They also obtain some consequences in shape theory. In particular, they describe some new representations of shape morphisms related to infinite branches in trees.