Proper L--S category, fundamental pro-groups and 2-dimensional proper co-H-spaces (Q817624)

This paper provides a study of one-ended locally finite CW-complexes with proper LS category \(\leq 2\). First of all the authors prove that if \((X,\alpha)\) is a properly well based proper ANR-space, then proper LS category \(X\leq 2\) if and only if \((X,\alpha)\) is a proper co-H-space. When \((X,\alpha)\) is a properly based polyhedron with proper LS category \(\leq 2\), then the fundamental pro-group pro-\(\pi_1(X,\alpha)\) is pro-isomorphic to a coproduct \(L\vee P\) of a free tower \(L\) by a telescopic tower \(P\). A free tower is a tower \(\cdots L_1@>i_1>> L_0\) of free groups \(L_i= \langle B_i\rangle\) such that each \(i_j: B_j\to B_{j-1}\) is an injection, and \(\bigcap B_i=\emptyset\). A telescopic tower is a tower \(\cdots\to P_1@>p_1>> P_0\) where each \(P_i= \langle D_i\rangle\) is a free group, \(D_i\subset D_{i+1}\) and the \(p_i\) are canonical projections. The authors deduce that two locally compact one-ended 2-dimensional connected CW complexes \(X\) and \(Y\) have the same fundamental pro-group if and only if there are spherical objects \(S^2_a\) and \(S^2_b\) such that \(X\vee S^2_a\simeq Y\vee S^2_b\).