Covering \(\mathbb R\)-trees, \(\mathbb R\)-free groups, and dendrites (Q981616)

The authors prove (Theorem 1) that every length space \(X\) is the metric quotient of an \(\mathbb{R}\)-tree \(\overline{X}\) via a free action of a locally free subgroup \(\Gamma(X)\) of isometries of \(X\). As a corollary, they contribute to the 70-year old theory of dimension-raising open mappings, by concluding that every non-trivial topological space with a compatible length metric is the image of a simply connected \(X\) with \(\mathrm{ind}\;X=1\) via a light open mapping. Next, the authors realize \(\overline{X}\) as a subtree of \(A_{\mathfrak{c}}\), the complete \(\mathbb{R}\)-tree with valency \(\mathfrak{c}=2^{\aleph_0}\) at each point. Moreover, when \(X\) is the Sierpiński carpet, the Sierpiński gasket, the Menger sponge or a complete Riemannian manifold of dimension \(n\geq 2\), \(\overline{X}\) is isometric to \(A_{\mathfrak{c}}\). Returning to Theorem 1, the authors show that the mapping \(\overline{\phi}:\overline{X}\to X\) is a so-called unique rectifiable lifting and is universal among such URL maps into \(X\). Finally, they study the group \(\Gamma(X)\), which acts freely on \(\overline{X}\) and show that in the above cases, or if \(X\) is the Hawaiian earring with any compatible length metric, the group \(\Gamma(X)\) is an infinitely generated, locally free group that is not free and not a free product of surface groups and abelian groups, but acts freely on the \(\mathbb{R}\)-tree \(\overline{X}\). Moreover, they recover \textit{R. Zastrow}'s example [Proc. R. Soc. Edinb., Sect. A, Math. 128, No.~2, 433--445 (1998; Zbl 0913.20028)] of a group \(G\) and a free action on an \(\mathbb{R}\)-tree that was constructed in relation to \textit{J. W. Morgan}'s question [Bull. Am. Math. Soc., New Ser. 26, No.~1, 87--112 (1992; Zbl 0767.05054)] of which groups act freely on \(\mathbb{R}\)-trees.