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Let $(X, \tau)$ be a topological space. We say that $(X,\tau)$ is $T_{\text{inj}}$ if there is an injective map $f:X\to\tau$ such that $x\in f(x)$ for all $x\in X$.

It is not hard to see that $T_1$ and all the stronger separation axioms imply $T_{\text{inj}}$.

Questions. Does $T_0$ imply $T_{\text{inj}}$? Is there any implication between $T_{\text{inj}}$ and other weak separation axioms?

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$\textbf{Finite $T_{0}$-spaces are $T_{inj}$}$

I claim that every finite $T_{0}$-space is $T_{inj}$. If $(X,\tau)$ is a finite $T_{0}$-topology, then there exists a partial ordering $\leq$ on $X$ so that the open sets are precisely the upwards closed sets. Therefore, let $f:X\rightarrow\tau$ map the element $x$ to the smallest upwards closed set containing $x$. Then $f$ is an injective mapping.

$\textbf{Not every $T_{0}$-space is $T_{inj}$}$

Note: Due to a remark by Eric Wofsey, I am generalizing the counterexample I had earlier. Suppose that $X=A\cup(\omega+1)$ and $A$ is disjoint from $\omega+1$. Give $X$ any $T_{0}$-topology $\mathcal{T}$ such that if $\alpha\in\omega+1$, then the neighborhoods of $\alpha$ are the sets of the form $\{x\in\omega+1|x>\beta\}\cup A$ for some $\beta<\alpha$ and the set $X$ itself. I claim that $X$ is not $T_{inj}$. Suppose that $f:X\rightarrow\mathcal{T}$ is injective and $x\in f(x)$ for each $x\in X$. Then since the only neighborhood of $0$ is $X$ we conclude that $f(0)=X$. I now claim that if $n$ is a positive integer, then $f(n)=\{x\in\omega+1|x\geq n\}\cup A$. We shall proceed by induction. If $n=1$, then the only neighborhoods of $f(1)$ are $X$ and $X\setminus\{0\}$. However, since $f$ is injective, we have $f(1)=X\setminus\{0\}$. Now assume that $n>1$. Then $f(n)\in X,X\setminus\{0\},...,X\setminus\{0,...,n-1\}$. However, since $f(i)=X\setminus\{0,...,i-1\}$ for $0<i<n$ and $f(0)=X$ and $f$ is injective, we have $f(n)=X\setminus\{0,...,n-1\}$. However, the only neighborhoods of $f(\omega)$ are the neighborhoods $X$ and $X\setminus\{0,...,n\}$ and $f(n)=X\setminus\{0,...,n-1\}$ and $f(0)=X$, so $f(\omega)=f(n)$ for some $n<\omega$. Therefore the function $f$ is not injective.

In particular, if $\lambda$ is an ordinal greater than $\omega$ and $\lambda$ is given the topology $\mathcal{T}$ where the open sets are $\emptyset,X$ along with the sets of the form $\{x\in\lambda|x>\alpha\}$, then $\lambda$ is not $T_{inj}$. Furthermore, if $\kappa$ is an uncountable regular cardinal, and $f:\kappa\rightarrow\mathcal{T}$ is a function with $\alpha\in f(\alpha)$ for all $\alpha<\kappa$ must be constant on a stationary set by Fodor's Lemma. In this sense, the axiom $T_{inj}$ fails badly for uncountable regular cardinals $\kappa$.

$\textbf{The relation to partial orders}$

Recall that the specialization ordering on a space $X$ is the preordering $\preceq$ where $x\preceq y$ iff $\overline{x}\subseteq\overline{y}$, and the specialization ordering $\preceq$ is a partial ordering if and only if $X$ is $T_{0}$.

Let $(X,\leq)$ be a partially ordered set. Then the smallest topology $\mathcal{T}$ with specialization ordering $\leq$ is the topology generated by the subbasis $\{(\downarrow x)^{c}|x\in X\}$. Then since $\mathcal{T}$ is the smallest topology with specialization ordering $\leq$, it is easy to see that $(X,\mathcal{T})$ is $T_{inj}$ iff there is some $T_{inj}$ topology $\mathcal{S}$ on $X$ with specialization ordering $\leq$. Therefore the $T_{inj}$ axiom is very closely related to the underlying specialization ordering of a topological space so it should be thought of in terms of partial orders as well as topological spaces.

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  • $\begingroup$ Your answer is very thorough, clear, and useful, so thank you very much! $\endgroup$ Mar 10, 2015 at 20:00
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    $\begingroup$ Requiring $\kappa$ to be regular (and uncountable) and using Fodor's lemma is massive overkill; such an injection cannot exist as long as $\kappa$ is any ordinal greater than $\omega$, since $g(n)$ is forced to be $n-1$ for each $n\in\mathbb{N}$ and then $g(\omega)$ has nowhere to go. $\endgroup$ Mar 11, 2015 at 6:01
  • $\begingroup$ Eric Wofsey. I see. I edited the answer and made it CW. $\endgroup$ Mar 11, 2015 at 15:15
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A space is $T_{1/2}$ if every singleton is either open or closed. Sierpinski's space is an example of a $T_{1/2}$ not $T_1$ space. If $X$ is a $T_{1/2}$ space, let $A$ be the set of non-isolated points, and define $f(x)=\{x\}$ for $x\in X\setminus A$ and $f(x)=X\setminus \{\sigma x\}$ for $x\in A$, where $\sigma$ is a permutation of $A$ without fixed points (if $A=\{a\}$ then we just let $f(a)=X$). This shows that $T_{1/2} \rightarrow T_{\mathrm{inj}}$.

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$T_{inj}$ does not imply $T_0$. For the counterexample, consider the set $\{a, b, c\}$ with the topology generated by $\{a,b\}$ and$ \{c\}$.

A slight generalization shows that any topological space embeds into some $T_{inj}$ space. This should prevent $T_{inj}$ from implying any reasonable separation axiom.

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