# Universal Metric Spaces and Extension Dimension

## Abstract.

For any countable $`CW`$-complex $`K`$ and a cardinal number $`\tau \omega `$ we construct a completely metrizable space $`X(K,\tau )`$ of weight $`\tau `$ with the following properties: $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}X(K,\tau )K`$, $`X(K,\tau )`$ is an absolute extensor for all normal spaces $`Y`$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}YK`$, and for any completely metrizable space $`Z`$ of weight $`\tau `$ and $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}ZK`$ the set of closed embeddings $`ZX(K,\tau )`$ is dense in the space $`C(Z,X(K,\tau ))`$ of all continuous maps from $`Z`$ into $`X(K,\tau )`$ endowed with the limitation topology. This result is applied to prove the existence of universal spaces for all metrizable spaces of given weight and with a given cohomological dimension.

###### Key words and phrases:

Extension dimension, strongly universal space, $`K`$-soft maps     
The existence of universal separable metric spaces for extension dimension with respect to countable $`CW`$-complexes was proved by Olszewski in . In the class of all metric spaces of a given weight this problem was recently solved by Levin . In the present note we show the existence of universal metric spaces having some extra properties (see Theorem 1 below). The concept of extension dimension was introduced by Dranishnikov  (see also , ). For a normal space $`X`$ and a $`CW`$-complex $`K`$ we write $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}XK`$ (the extension dimension of $`X`$ does not exceed $`K`$) if $`K`$ is an absolute extensor for $`X`$. This means that any continuous map $`f:AK`$, defined on a closed subset $`A`$ of $`X`$, admits a continuous extension $`\overline{f}:XK`$. Since not every $`CW`$-complex is an absolute neighborhood extensor for normal spaces, we can enlarge the class of normal spaces $`X`$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}XK`$ ($`K`$ is a $`CW`$-complex) by introducing the following notion (see \[14, Definition 2.5\]): A normal space $`X`$ is in the class $`\alpha (K)`$ if every continuous map from a closed $`AX`$ to $`K`$ which extends to a map of a neighborhood of $`A`$ to $`K`$ can be extended to a map of $`X`$ to $`K`$. Obviously, if $`KANE(X)`$ (this, for example, holds for every $`X`$ admitting a perfect map onto a first countable paracompact space ) then $`X\alpha (K)`$ if and only if $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}XK`$. We also adopt the following definition: a continuous map $`f:XY`$ is called $`K`$-soft (resp., $`K`$-soft with respect to metrizable spaces) if for any normal (resp., metrizable) space $`Z`$ with $`Z\alpha (K)`$, any closed $`Z_0Z`$, and any two maps $`g:Z_0X`$, $`h:ZY`$ with $`fg=h|Z_0`$, there exists a map $`k:ZX`$ such that $`fk=h`$ and $`k|Z_0=g`$.

For any $`CW`$-complex $`K`$ and any cardinal number $`\tau \omega `$ let $`(K,\tau )`$ be the class of all completely metrizable spaces $`X`$ of weight $`\tau `$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}XK`$. The following theorem is our main result:

###### Theorem 1.

For any countable $`CW`$-complex $`K`$ and a cardinal number $`\tau \omega `$ there exists a completely metrizable space $`X(K,\tau )`$ and a $`K`$-soft map $`f(K,\tau ):X(K,\tau )l_2(\tau )`$ satisfying the following properties:

* $`X(K,\tau )(K,\tau )`$.
* $`X(K,\tau )`$ is an absolute extensor for all normal spaces $`Y`$ with $`Y\alpha (K)`$.
* $`f(K,\tau )`$ is strongly $`(K,\tau )`$-universal, i.e. for any open cover $`𝒰`$ of $`X(K,\tau )`$, any (complete) metric space $`Z`$ of weight $`\tau `$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}ZK`$ and any map $`g:ZX(K,\tau )`$ there exists a (closed) embedding $`h:ZX(K,\tau )`$ $`𝒰`$-close to $`g`$ with $`f(K,\tau )g=f(K,\tau )h`$.

For the case $`K=S^n`$, $`n`$, Theorem 1 was proved in \[4, Theorem 2.7\]. Our proof of Theorem 1 is based on the next few lemmas and the techniques developed in  and .

###### Lemma 2.

For any countable $`CW`$-complex $`K`$ and any separable (completely) metrizable space $`X`$ there exists a separable (completely) metrizable space $`Y_X`$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}Y_XK`$ and a $`K`$-soft map $`f:Y_XX`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`P`$ be a Polish $`ANR`$ homotopically equivalent to $`K`$ and $`\phi :XP`$ and $`\psi :PX`$ be two maps such that $`\psi \phi `$ is homotopic to $`id_P`$ and $`\psi \phi `$ is homotopic to $`id_K`$. For extension dimension with respect to $`P`$ this lemma was proved in \[2, Proposition 5.9\]. So, for a given (complete) separable metric space $`X`$ there is a (complete) separable metric space $`Y_X`$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}Y_XP`$ and a $`P`$-soft map $`f:Y_XX`$. According to next claim, $`f`$ is $`K`$-soft.

Claim. If $`Z\alpha (K)`$ is normal, then $`Z\alpha (P)`$

Suppose $`Z\alpha (K)`$ is a normal space. Since every Polish $`ANR`$ is an $`ANE`$ for normal spaces, $`Z\alpha (P)`$ is equivalent to $`P\AE (Z)`$. Take a map $`g:AP`$, where $`AZ`$ is closed and consider the map $`\psi g:AK`$. Because $`g`$ can be extended to a map from a neighborhood $`U`$ of $`A`$ into $`P`$, $`\psi g`$ can be extended to a map from $`U`$ to $`K`$. Since $`Z\alpha (K)`$, there is an extension $`h:ZK`$ of $`\psi g`$. Then the restriction $`(\phi h)|A`$ is homotopic to $`g`$. Finally, using that the Homotopy Extension Theorem holds for normal spaces and Polish $`ANR`$’s, we conclude that $`g`$ is extendable to a map from $`Z`$ into $`P`$. Hence $`Z\alpha (P)`$.

It remains only to show that $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}Y_XK`$. And this follows from $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}Y_XP`$ and the fact that the Homotopy Extension Theorem holds for metric spaces and $`CW`$-complexes . ∎

###### Lemma 3.

 Let $`f:XY`$ be a uniformly 0-dimensional map of metrizable spaces $`X`$ and $`Y`$. Then $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}X\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}Y`$.

Recall that a map $`f:XY`$, where $`X`$ and $`Y`$ are metrizable spaces, is called uniformly 0-dimensional  if there exists a compatible metric on $`X`$ such that for every $`\epsilon >0`$ and every $`yf(X)`$ there is an open neighborhood $`U`$ of $`y`$ such that $`f^1(U)`$ can be represented as the union of disjoint open sets of $`diam<\epsilon `$. It is well known that every metric space admits a uniformly 0-dimensional map into Hilbert cube $`Q`$.

###### Lemma 4.

For any countable $`CW`$-complex $`K`$ and a (completely) metrizable space $`Y`$ of weight $`\tau `$ there exist a (completely) metrizable space X of weight $`\tau `$ and a $`K`$-soft map $`f:XY`$ such that $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}XK`$.

###### Proof.

It suffices to prove this corollary when $`Y`$ is the space $`l_2(\tau )`$. Fix a compatible metric $`d_1`$ on $`l_2(\tau )`$ and an uniformly 0-dimensional surjection (with respect to $`d_1`$) $`g:l_2(\tau )A`$ with $`A`$ a separable metric space. By Lemma 2, there exists a separable metric space $`Z`$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}ZK`$ and a $`K`$-soft map $`h:ZA`$. Let $`X`$ be the fibered product of $`l_2(\tau )`$ and $`Z`$ with respect to $`g`$ and $`h`$, and let $`f:Xl_2(\tau )`$ and $`p:XZ`$ denote the corresponding projections of this fibered product. If $`d_2`$ is any metric on $`Z`$, then $`p`$ is uniformly 0-dimensional with respect to the metric $`(d_1^2+d_2^2)^{1/2}`$ (see ). Hence, by Lemma 3, $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}ZK`$. The $`K`$-softness of $`h`$ implies that $`f`$ is also $`K`$-soft.

It remains only to show that $`X`$ is completely metrizable. To this end let $`B_X`$ be the space obtained from $`\beta X`$ by making the points of $`\beta XX`$ isolated. According to \[13, Lemma 2\], $`B_X`$ is paracompact, and obviously, $`B_X`$ is first countable.

Claim. $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}B_XK`$

Let $`s:FK`$ be an arbitrary map, where $`FB_X`$ is closed. Since $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}XK`$, there exists an extension $`s_1:FXK`$ of $`s`$. Now we need the following result \[8, Theorem 11.2\]: any contractible $`CW`$-complex is an absolute extensor for all spaces admitting a perfect map onto a first countable paracompact space. This statement implies that $`\mathrm{Cone}(K)`$ is an absolute extensor for $`B_X`$. Therefore, there exists an extension $`s_2:B_X\mathrm{Cone}(K)`$ of $`s_1`$. Let $`H=s_2^1(\mathrm{Cone}(K)\{b\})`$, where $`b\mathrm{Cone}(K)K`$. Fix a retraction $`r:\mathrm{Cone}(K)\{b\}K`$. Since $`H`$ is clopen in $`B_X`$, it follows that $`rs_2`$ can be extended to a map $`s_3:B_XK`$. Then $`s_3`$ is an extension of $`s`$ and, consequently, $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}B_XK`$.

Now let us go back to the proof of the completeness of $`X`$. Considering $`X`$ as a closed subset of $`B_X`$ and using the fact that $`l_2(\tau )`$ is an absolute extensor for paracompact spaces, we can find a map $`q:B_Xl_2(\tau )`$ such that $`q|X=f`$. Then, since $`f`$ is $`K`$-soft and $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}B_XK`$, there exists a retraction from $`B_X`$ onto $`X`$. Finally, applying the argument from \[13, the proof of Lemma 2\], we conclude that $`X`$ is complete. ∎

Proof of Theorem 1. We will construct an inverse sequence $`S=\{X_n,p_n^{n+1},n\}`$ such that:

1. $`X_1=l_2(\tau )`$ and $`X_n(K,\tau )`$ for each $`n1`$;
2. each $`p_n^{n+1}:X_{n+1}X_n`$ is a $`K`$-soft map such that for any completely metrizable space $`Z`$ of weight $`\tau `$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}ZK`$ and any map $`g:ZX_n`$ there exists a closed embedding $`h:ZX_{n+1}`$ with $`p_n^{n+1}h=g`$.

If $`X_i`$ and $`p_{i1}^i`$ have already been constructed for $`i=1,2,\mathrm{},n`$, then, by Lemma 4, there exist a completely metrizable space $`X_{n+1}`$ of weight $`\tau `$ and a $`K`$-soft map $`h_{n+1}:X_{n+1}X_n\times l_2(\tau )`$ such that $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}X_{n+1}K`$. Let $`p_n^{n+1}=\pi _nh_{n+1}`$, where $`\pi _n:X_n\times l_2(\tau )X_n`$ is the natural projection. Denote by $`X(K,\tau )`$ the limit space of $`S`$ and by $`f(K,\tau )`$ the limit projection $`p_1:X(K,\tau )X_1`$. Obviously, $`X(K,\tau )`$ is a completely metrizable space of weight $`\tau `$ and $`f(K,\tau )`$ is $`K`$-soft. Following the proof of Lemma 2.6 from  one can show that $`f(K,\tau )`$ is strongly $`(K,\tau )`$-universal. Finally, by the limit theorem of Rubin-Schapiro , $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}X(K,\tau )K`$. Observe that $`X(K,\tau )`$ is an absolute extensor for all normal spaces $`Y`$ with $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}YK`$ because $`l_2(\tau )`$ is an absolute extensor for normal spaces and $`f(K,\tau )`$ is $`K`$-soft.

We can apply Theorem 1 to obtain universal spaces for all metrizable spaces with a given cohomological dimension and a given weight. Recall that, for any abelian group $`G`$ and a natural number $`n`$, the cohomological dimension $`dim_GX`$ of $`X`$ with a coefficient group $`G`$ is $`n`$ iff $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}XK(G,n)`$, where $`X`$ is a normal space and $`K(G,n)`$ is the Eilenberg-MacLane complex. Let us agree the following notations: a map $`f`$ is called $`(G,n)`$-soft iff it is $`K(G,n)`$-soft, and $`f`$ is strongly $`(G,n,\tau )`$-universal iff $`f`$ is strongly $`(K(G,n),\tau )`$-universal.

###### Corollary 5.

Let $`G`$ be a countable (resp., torsion) abelian group. Then for every $`n`$ and $`\tau \omega `$ there exists a completely metrizable space $`X_\tau (G,n)`$ of weight $`\tau `$ and a map $`f_\tau (G,n):X_\tau (G,n)l_2(\tau )`$ such that:

* $`\mathrm{dim}_GX_\tau (G,n)=n`$.
* $`X_\tau (G,n)`$ is an absolute extensor for all normal (rep., metrizable) spaces $`Y`$ with $`\mathrm{dim}_GYn`$.
* $`f_\tau (G,n)`$ is strongly $`(G,n,\tau )`$-universal and $`(G,n)`$-soft (resp., $`(G,n)`$-soft with respect to metrizable spaces).

###### Proof.

If $`G`$ is countable, the proof follows directly from Theorem 1 with $`K=K(G,n)`$. If $`G`$ is torsion, by \[7, Theorem B(a)\], there exists a countable family $`\sigma (G)`$ of countable groups such that $`\mathrm{dim}_GY=\mathrm{max}\{\mathrm{dim}_HY:H\sigma (G)\}`$ for any metrizable space $`Y`$. Then, according to \[9, Lemma 2.4\], for each $`n`$ there is a countable complex $`K_n`$ with $`\mathrm{dim}_GYn`$ if and only if $`\mathrm{e}\mathrm{dim}YK_n`$, $`Y`$ is any metrizable space. Finally, apply Theorem 1 to $`K_n`$. ∎

Similarly, using Theorem 1 and \[7, Theorem B(a),(b) and (f)\]), we can obtain the following

###### Corollary 6.

Let $`G`$ be an arbitrary abelian group. Then for every $`n`$ and $`\tau \omega `$ there exists a completely metrizable space $`Y_\tau (G,n)`$ of weight $`\tau `$ and a map $`g_\tau (G,n):Y_\tau (G,n)l_2(\tau )`$ such that:

* $`\mathrm{dim}_GY_\tau (G,n)n+1`$.
* $`Y_\tau (G,n)`$ is an absolute extensor for all metrizable spaces $`Z`$ with $`\mathrm{dim}_GZn`$.
* $`g_\tau (G,n)`$ is strongly $`(G,n,\tau )`$-universal and $`(G,n)`$-soft with respect to metrizable spaces.

For $`\tau =\omega `$ weaker versions of Corollary 5 and Corollary 6 were proved in .