Gδ space
In mathematics, particularly topology, a Gδ space is a topological space in which closed sets are in a way ‘separated’ from their complements using only countably many open sets. A Gδ space may thus be regarded as a space satisfying a different kind of separation axiom. In fact normal Gδ spaces are referred to as normal space">normal space">normal spaces, and satisfy the strongest of separation axioms.
Gδ spaces are also called perfect spaces. The term perfect is also used, incompatibly, to refer to a space with no isolated points; see Perfect set.
Definition
A countable intersection of open sets in a topological space is called a Gδ set. Trivially, every open set is a Gδ set. Dually, a countable union of closed sets is called an Fσ set. Trivially, every closed set is an Fσ set.A topological space X is called a Gδ space if every closed subset of X is a Gδ set. Dually and equivalently, a Gδ space is a space in which every open set is an Fσ set.
Properties and examples
- Every subspace of a Gδ space is a Gδ space.
- Every metrizable space is a Gδ space. The same holds for pseudometrizable spaces.
- Every second countable regular space is a Gδ space. This follows from the Urysohn's metrization theorem in the Hausdorff case, but can easily be shown directly.
- Every countable regular space is a Gδ space.
- Every hereditarily Lindelöf regular space is a Gδ space. Such spaces are in fact perfectly normal. This generalizes the previous two items about second countable and countable regular spaces.
- A Gδ space need not be normal, as R endowed with the K-topology shows. That example is not a regular space. Examples of Tychonoff Gδ spaces that are not normal are the Sorgenfrey plane and the Niemytzki plane.
- In a first countable T1 space, every singleton is a Gδ set. That is not enough for the space to be a Gδ space, as shown for example by the lexicographic [order topology on the unit square].
- The Sorgenfrey line is an example of a perfectly normal space that is not metrizable.
- The topological sum of a family of disjoint topological spaces is a Gδ space if and only if each is a Gδ space.