nLab exterior space

Context

Topology

topology (point-set topology, point-free topology)

see also differential topology, algebraic topology, functional analysis and topological homotopy theory

Introduction

Basic concepts

Universal constructions

Extra stuff, structure, properties

Examples

Basic statements

Theorems

Analysis Theorems

topological homotopy theory

Contents

Idea

A generalization of the notion of topological spaces with proper maps between them, resulting in a bicomplete category.

Definition

An exterior space is a topological space equipped with an externology: a collection of open subsets (known as exterior sets) that is closed under finite intersection and passage to open supersets.

A morphism of exterior spaces is a continuous map such that the preimage of an exterior set is exterior.

Properties

The category of exterior spaces is complete and cocomplete.

The category of topological spaces and proper maps embeds fully faithfully into exterior spaces.

Thus, exterior spaces form a natural categorical setting for proper homotopy theory.

References

Original reference:

  • J. M. García-Calcines, M. Garcia-Pinillos, L. J. Hernández-Paricio: A closed simplicial model category for proper homotopy and shape theories, Bulletin of the Australian Mathematical Society 57 2 (1998) 221–242. [doi:10.1017/s0004972700031610]

A modern source with references to earlier articles:

  • Antonio Ceres, José M. García-Calcines, Aniceto Murillo: A stable framework for proper and exterior homotopy and cohomology theories [arXiv:2608.06186]

Last revised on August 8, 2026 at 16:51:40. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.