On strong size levels (Q387228)

Given a metric continuum \(X\), let \(C_n(X)\) denote the hyperspace of all closed nonempty subsets of \(X\) with at most \(n\) components. The hyperspace \(C_n(X)\) is considered with the Hausdorff metric. \textit{H. Hosokawa} [Houston J. Math. 37, No. 3, 955--965 (2011; Zbl 1233.54004)], has defined the notion of strong size map \(\sigma : C_n(X) \rightarrow [0,1]\) in such a way that the fibers \(\sigma^{-1}(t)\), called strong size levels, are subcontinua of \(C_n(X)\). This gives a natural generalization of Whitney levels, traditionally defined for \(C_1(X)\), to the hyperspace \(C_n(X)\). As in the case of Whitney levels, it is natural to ask what topological properties of the continuum \(X\) can be induced to the strong size levels and vice versa. A topological property \(P\) is called \(n\)-strong size property provided that if \(X\) has property \(P\), then each strong size level for \(C_n(X)\) has property \(P\). Hosokawa showed that local connectedness, arcwise connectedness and aposyndesis are strong size properties. Other strong size properties have been shown in [\textit{S. Macías} and \textit{C. Piceno}, Glas. Mat., III. Ser. 48, No. 1, 103--114 (2013; Zbl 1275.54007)]. A useful condition for non-contractibility of continua and hyperspaces is the existence of \(R^{3}\)-sets. Answering Question 58.3 of [\textit{A. Illanes} and \textit{S. B. Nadler, jun.}, Hyperspaces: fundamentals and recent advances. Pure and Applied Mathematics, Marcel Dekker. 216. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker. (1999; Zbl 0933.54009)], the authors of the paper under review show that the property of containing no \(R^{3}\)-set is not an \(n\)-strong size property for any \(n\) and they prove other results related to the existence of \(R^{3}\)-sets in strong size levels. They also answer Question 49.9 of the Illanes-Nadler book cited above by showing an example of an irreducible, hereditarily decomposable continuum such that every positive Whitney level in \(C_1(X)\) is not irreducible. A similar example has been recently published in [\textit{B. Espinoza, J. M. Martínez-Montejano, N. Ordoñez} and \textit{L. C. Simon Romero}, Topol. Proc. 44, 133--138 (2014; Zbl 1295.54015)].