Compacta and their function spaces (Q890065)

A compact Hausdorff space \(X\) has the \textit{Non Trivial Idempotent Property} (NTIP) if any closed subalgebra of \(C(X,\mathbb{C})\) which separates points and contains the constant functions, contains a nontrivial idempotent, [\textit{K. Kunen}, Fundam. Math. 182, No. 2, 151--167 (2004; Zbl 1063.46036)]. In this paper two properties defined in terms of \(C(X,\mathbb{R})\) are introduced, \textit{strange} and \textit{weakly strange}, which interpolate between scattered and the NTIP. A compact Hausdorff space \(X\) is strange (weakly strange) if for every (linear subspace) \(\mathcal{E}\in C(X,\mathbb{R})\) which separates points there exists a map \(h\in\mathcal{E}\cup\{f-g:\,f,g\in\mathcal{E}\}\) (\(h\in\mathcal{E}\)) whose image is not connected. Results expressing these properties using general cardinal functions as the weight, cellularity, etc. are stated in some cases.