σ-compact space

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In mathematics, a topological space is said to be σ-compact if it is the union of countably many compact subspaces.[1]

A space is said to be σ-locally compact if it is both σ-compact and (weakly) locally compact.[2] That terminology can be somewhat confusing as it does not fit the usual pattern of σ-(property) meaning a countable union of spaces satisfying (property); that's why such spaces are more commonly referred to explicitly as σ-compact (weakly) locally compact, which is also equivalent to being exhaustible by compact sets.[3]

Properties and examples[edit]

  • Every compact space is σ-compact, and every σ-compact space is Lindelöf (i.e. every open cover has a countable subcover).[4] The reverse implications do not hold, for example, standard Euclidean space (Rn) is σ-compact but not compact,[5] and the lower limit topology on the real line is Lindelöf but not σ-compact.[6] In fact, the countable complement topology on any uncountable set is Lindelöf but neither σ-compact nor locally compact.[7] However, it is true that any locally compact Lindelöf space is σ-compact.
  • (The irrational numbers) is not σ-compact.[8]
  • A Hausdorff, Baire space that is also σ-compact, must be locally compact at at least one point.
  • If G is a topological group and G is locally compact at one point, then G is locally compact everywhere. Therefore, the previous property tells us that if G is a σ-compact, Hausdorff topological group that is also a Baire space, then G is locally compact. This shows that for Hausdorff topological groups that are also Baire spaces, σ-compactness implies local compactness.
  • The previous property implies for instance that Rω is not σ-compact: if it were σ-compact, it would necessarily be locally compact since Rω is a topological group that is also a Baire space.
  • Every hemicompact space is σ-compact.[9] The converse, however, is not true;[10] for example, the space of rationals, with the usual topology, is σ-compact but not hemicompact.
  • The product of a finite number of σ-compact spaces is σ-compact. However the product of an infinite number of σ-compact spaces may fail to be σ-compact.[11]
  • A σ-compact space X is second category (respectively Baire) if and only if the set of points at which is X is locally compact is nonempty (respectively dense) in X.[12]

See also[edit]

  • Exhaustion by compact sets – in analysis, a sequence of compact sets that converges on a given set
  • Lindelöf space – topological space such that every open cover has a countable subcover
  • Locally compact space – Type of topological space in mathematics

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Steen, p. 19; Willard, p. 126.
  2. ^ Steen, p. 21.
  3. ^ "A question about local compactness and $\sigma$-compactness". Mathematics Stack Exchange.
  4. ^ Steen, p. 19.
  5. ^ Steen, p. 56.
  6. ^ Steen, p. 75–76.
  7. ^ Steen, p. 50.
  8. ^ Hart, K.P.; Nagata, J.; Vaughan, J.E. (2004). Encyclopedia of General Topology. Elsevier. p. 170. ISBN 0 444 50355 2.
  9. ^ Willard, p. 126.
  10. ^ Willard, p. 126.
  11. ^ Willard, p. 126.
  12. ^ Willard, p. 188.

References[edit]