On transversal group topologies (Q818403)

Two non-discrete Hausdorff group topologies \({\mathcal T}_1\) and \({\mathcal T}_2\) on a group are called \textit{transversal} if their least upper bound \({\mathcal T}_1\vee {\mathcal T}_2\) (i.e., the topology having the union \({\mathcal T}_1\cup {\mathcal T}_2\) as a subbase) is the discrete topology. The present paper is devoted to the study of those Hausdorff topological groups that admit transversal group topologies. The main tool used in this study is the concept of the \textit{submaximal topology} on a group. This concept was introduced for abelian groups by I. Prodanov (see [\textit{I. Prodanov}, Colloq. Math. Soc. János Bolyai, vol. 23, Topology, Budapest, Hungary, 985--997 (1978; Zbl 0452.22002)]). The important relationship between transversality and the submaximal topology imposes the necessity of computing this topology. In this sense, the authors give an alternative proof for Prodanov's description for the submaximal topology in the case of abelian groups. The first result of the paper which emphasizes the important role of the submaximal topology for the transversality problem is a criterion for transversality by means of the submaximal topology. As a consequence of this criterion, it is proved that if a non-discrete topological group \(G\) contains a central subgroup that admits a transversal group topology, then so does \(G\). The same conclusion remains valid if \(G\) contains an infinite central discrete subgroup. Also, it is shown that precompactness is an important obstacle for the existence of transversal group topologies: No precompact group topology on an infinite group admits a transversal group topology. Moreover, it turns out that the abelian groups \(G\) having the property that every non-discrete non-precompact group topology on \(G\) admits a transversal group topology are precisely those abelian groups where the submaximal topology coincides with the Bohr topology (i.e., the maximal precompact topology on \(G\)). In fact, the non-existence of a transversal group topology for a Hausdorff group topology \({\mathcal T}\) on an abelian group \(G\) is equivalent to the precompactness of \({\mathcal T}\) provided the submaximal topology on \(G\) coincides with the Bohr topology. The paper also contains results concerning the transversality problem for locally compact groups. It is shown that a non-discrete locally compact group with non-compact divisible center admits a transversal group topology. In particular, a non-discrete divisible locally compact abelian group admits a transversal group topology if and only if it is not compact. Also, there are given certain equivalent conditions for the existence of transversal group topologies in the case of locally compact abelian groups. The last section of the paper contains a list of open problems related to the transversality of group topologies.