Covering

Category of coverings

Given a topological space 𝑋, the category of coverings π–’π—ˆπ—π‘‹ over 𝑋 is a category where homotopy

  • Each object 𝑝 βˆˆπ–’π—ˆπ—π‘‹ is a covering 𝑝 :Λœπ‘‹ ↠𝑋 where Λœπ‘‹ is some covering space
  • Each morphism 𝑓 βˆˆπ–’π—ˆπ—π‘‹(𝑝,π‘ž) is a map such that the following diagram commutes in π–³π—ˆπ—‰:

https://q.uiver.app/#q=WzAsMyxbMCwwLCJcXHRpbGRlIFgiXSxbNCwwLCJcXHRpbGRlIFgnIl0sWzIsMiwiWCJdLFswLDIsInAiLDIseyJzdHlsZSI6eyJoZWFkIjp7Im5hbWUiOiJlcGkifX19XSxbMSwyLCJxIiwwLHsic3R5bGUiOnsiaGVhZCI6eyJuYW1lIjoiZXBpIn19fV0sWzAsMSwiZiJdXQ==

Such an 𝑓 is sometimes referred to as a covering morphism. Two coverings 𝑝,π‘ž of 𝑋 are called equivalent iff they are isomorphic in π–’π—ˆπ—π‘‹

Category of coverings with basepoint

The category of coverings with basepoint π–’π—ˆπ—(𝑋,π‘₯0) is defined similarly

https://q.uiver.app/#q=WzAsMyxbMCwwLCIoXFx0aWxkZSBYLCBcXHRpbGRlIHhfMCkiXSxbNCwwLCIoXFx0aWxkZSBYJywgXFx0aWxkZSB4XzAnKSJdLFsyLDIsIihYLCB4XzApIl0sWzAsMiwicCIsMix7InN0eWxlIjp7ImhlYWQiOnsibmFtZSI6ImVwaSJ9fX1dLFsxLDIsInEiLDAseyJzdHlsZSI6eyJoZWFkIjp7Im5hbWUiOiJlcGkifX19XSxbMCwxLCJmIl1d

Since any 𝑓 βˆˆπ–’π—ˆπ—(𝑋,π‘₯0)(𝑝,π‘ž) is a lift of 𝑝 over π‘ž there exists at most one.

Moreover for connected and locally path-connected coverings, there exists exactly one 𝑓 βˆˆπ–’π—ˆπ—(𝑋,π‘₯0)(𝑝,π‘ž) iff im(πœ‹1π‘ž) βŠ†im(πœ‹1𝑝). Thus π–’π—ˆπ—(𝑋,π‘₯0) is a thin category or preorder.

Further terminology

Properties


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