A universal model infinite-dimensional space (Q968897)

Given two ordinals \(\beta<\alpha\) (each ordinal \(\gamma\) will be identified with the set of all ordinals \(<\gamma\), and cardinals will be identified with initial ordinals of a given size) and a pointed topological space \((X,*)\), identify the power \(X^\beta\) with the subset \(\{ (x_i)_{i\in \alpha} \in X^\alpha\;|\;x_i=*\;\text{for all} \;i\geq \beta \}\). Let \(X^{<\alpha}:=\bigcup_{\beta<\alpha} X^\beta\) be endowed with the strongest topology, that is with the product topology on every subset \(X^\beta\) of \(X^{<\alpha}, \beta,\alpha\). Many important model spaces of infinite-dimensional topology can be obtained as spaces of the form \(X^{<\alpha}\) for \((X,*)=(I,0)\) or \((\mathbb{R},0)\) and special ordinals \(\alpha\), e.g. the Hilbert cube \(Q:= [-1,1]^\omega\) (if \((X,*)=(I:=[-1,1],0)\) and \(\alpha=\omega+1\)), the countable product \(\mathbb{R}^\omega\) (if \((X,*)=(\mathbb{R},0)\) and \(\alpha=\omega+1\)), the Tychonov cube (if \((X,*)=(I,0)\) and \(\alpha=\tau+1\) is an uncountable successor ordinal), the uncountable power \(\mathbb{R}^\tau\) (if \((X,*)=(\mathbb{R},0)\) and \(\alpha=\tau+1\) is an uncountable successor ordinal), the direct limit \(\mathbb{R}^\infty:=\underrightarrow{\lim} \mathbb{R}^n\) (if \((X,*)=(\mathbb{R},0)\) and \(\alpha=\omega\)) and the direct limit \(Q^\infty:=\underrightarrow{\lim} Q^n\) (if \((X,*)=(I,0)\) and \(\alpha=\omega\cdot \omega\)). Thus the spaces of the form \(X^{<\alpha}\) can be considered as universal model spaces for infinite-dimensional topology. The authors investigate topological properties of the spaces \(X^{<\alpha}\) for various ordinals \(\alpha\), and give a topological classification of the spaces \(X^{<\alpha}\). Also topological characterizations of the spaces \(X^{<\alpha}\) for special simple pointed spaces (like \((I,0)\) or \((\mathbb{R},0)\)) and simple ordinals \(\alpha\) are pointed out (for topological characterizations of the model spaces mentioned above as well as for the other particular spaces \(X^{<\alpha}\), see [\textit{H. Toruńczyk}, ibid. 106, 31--40 (1980; Zbl 0346.57004), Fundam. Math. 111, 247--262 (1981; Zbl 0468.57015)], [\textit{A. Chigogidze}, North-Holland Mathematical Library. 53. Amsterdam: Elsevier. (1996; Zbl 0934.54001)], [\textit{V. V. Fedorchuk} and \textit{A.I. Chigogidze}, Absolute Retracts and Infinite-Dimensional Manifolds, Moskva: Nauka. 232 p., in Russian (1992; Zbl 0762.54017)], \textit{E. Ščepin} [ Sov. Math., Dokl. 20, 511-515 (1979); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 246, 551-554 (1979; Zbl 0431.54020)], \textit{K. Sakai} [Topology Appl. 18, 69--79 (1984; Zbl 0568.57014)], \textit{E. Pentsak} [Mat. Stud. 5, 107--116 (1995; Zbl 0927.57019)]).