Reconstructing compact metrizable spaces

Abstract:

The deck, $\mathcal {D}(X)$, of a topological space $X$ is the set $\mathcal {D}(X) =\{[X \setminus \{x\}]:x \in X\}$, where $[Y]$ denotes the homeomorphism class of $Y$. A space $X$ is (topologically) reconstructible if whenever $\mathcal {D}(Z)=\mathcal D(X)$, then $Z$ is homeomorphic to $X$. It is known that every (metrizable) continuum is reconstructible, whereas the Cantor set is non-reconstructible.

The main result of this paper characterises the non-reconstructible compact metrizable spaces as precisely those where for each point $x$ there is a sequence $\langle B_n^x:n \in \mathbb {N}\rangle$ of pairwise disjoint clopen subsets converging to $x$ such that $B_n^x$ and $B_n^y$ are homeomorphic for each $n$ and all $x$ and $y$.

In a non-reconstructible compact metrizable space the set of $1$-point components forms a dense $G_\delta$. For $h$-homogeneous spaces, this condition is sufficient for non-reconstruction. A wide variety of spaces with a dense $G_\delta$ set of $1$-point components is presented, some reconstructible and others not reconstructible.