Perfect map

In mathematics, especially topology, a perfect map is a particular kind of continuous function between topological spaces. Perfect maps are weaker than homeomorphisms, but strong enough to preserve some topological properties such as local compactness that are not always preserved by continuous maps.

In mathematics, especially topology, a perfect map is a particular kind of continuous function between topological spaces. Perfect maps are weaker than homeomorphisms, but strong enough to preserve some topological properties such as local compactness that are not always preserved by continuous maps. A perfect map need not be open. Indeed, consider the map p\colon [1, 2] \cup [3, 4] \to [1, 3] given by p(x) = x if x\in [1, 2] and p(x) = x - 1 if x\in{}[3, 4] . This map is closed, continuous (by the pasting lemma), and surjective and therefore is a perfect map (the other condition is trivially satisfied). However, p is not open, for the image of under p is which is not open relative to (the range of p). Note that this map is a quotient map and the quotient operation is 'gluing' two intervals together. Notice how, to preserve properties such as local connectedness, second countability, local compactness etc. ... the map must be not only continuous but also open. A perfect map need not be open (see previous example), but these properties are still preserved under perfect maps. Every homeomorphism is a perfect map. This follows from the fact that a bijective open map is closed and that since a homeomorphism is injective, the inverse of each element of the range must be finite in the domain (in fact, the inverse must have precisely one element). Every perfect map is a quotient map. This follows from the fact that a closed, continuous surjective map is always a quotient map. Let G be a compact topological group which acts continuously on X. Then the quotient map from X to X/G is a perfect map. Perfect maps are proper. Surjective proper maps are perfect, provided the topology of Y is Hausdorff and compactly generated.

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