Excluded point topology

In mathematics, the excluded point topology is a topology where exclusion of a particular point defines openness. Formally, let X be any non-empty set and pX. The collection

T = { S X : p S } { X } {\displaystyle T=\{S\subseteq X:p\notin S\}\cup \{X\}}

of subsets of X is then the excluded point topology on X. There are a variety of cases which are individually named:

  • If X has two points, it is called the Sierpiński space. This case is somewhat special and is handled separately.
  • If X is finite (with at least 3 points), the topology on X is called the finite excluded point topology
  • If X is countably infinite, the topology on X is called the countable excluded point topology
  • If X is uncountable, the topology on X is called the uncountable excluded point topology

A generalization is the open extension topology; if X { p } {\displaystyle X\setminus \{p\}} has the discrete topology, then the open extension topology on ( X { p } ) { p } {\displaystyle (X\setminus \{p\})\cup \{p\}} is the excluded point topology.

This topology is used to provide interesting examples and counterexamples.

Properties

Let X {\displaystyle X} be a space with the excluded point topology with special point p . {\displaystyle p.}

The space is compact, as the only neighborhood of p {\displaystyle p} is the whole space.

The topology is an Alexandrov topology. The smallest neighborhood of p {\displaystyle p} is the whole space X ; {\displaystyle X;} the smallest neighborhood of a point x p {\displaystyle x\neq p} is the singleton { x } . {\displaystyle \{x\}.} These smallest neighborhoods are compact. Their closures are respectively X {\displaystyle X} and { x , p } , {\displaystyle \{x,p\},} which are also compact. So the space is locally relatively compact (each point admits a local base of relatively compact neighborhoods) and locally compact in the sense that each point has a local base of compact neighborhoods. But points x p {\displaystyle x\neq p} do not admit a local base of closed compact neighborhoods.

The space is ultraconnected, as any nonempty closed set contains the point p . {\displaystyle p.} Therefore the space is also connected and path-connected.

See also

  • Finite topological space
  • Fort space
  • List of topologies
  • Particular point topology

References