Separation axiom

A condition imposed on a topological space, expressing the requirement that some disjoint (i.e. not having common points) sets can be topologically separated from each other in a specific way. The simplest (i.e. weakest) of these axioms apply only to one-point sets, i.e. to the points of a space. These are the so-called axioms (Kolmogorov's separation axiom, cf. also Kolmogorov space; Kolmogorov axiom) and . The next in line are (Hausdorff's separation axiom), (regularity axiom) and (normality axiom), which require, respectively, that every two different points (axiom ), every point and every closed set not containing it (axiom ), and every two disjoint closed sets (axiom ) can be separated by neighbourhoods, i.e. are contained in disjoint open sets of the given space.

A topological space which satisfies the axiom , , is called a -space; a -space is also called a Hausdorff space (cf. Hausdorff space), and a -space is called regular (cf. Regular space); a Hausdorff -space is always regular and is called normal (cf. Normal space).

Functional separation is of particular significance. Two sets and in a given topological space are said to be functionally separated in if there exists a real-valued bounded continuous function , defined throughout the space, which takes one value at all points of the set , and a value , different from , at all points of the set . It can always be supposed that , , and that at all points .

Two functionally-separable sets are always separable by neighbourhoods, but the converse is not always true. However, Urysohn's lemma holds: In a normal space, every two disjoint closed sets are functionally separable. A space in which every point is functionally separable from every closed set not containing it is called completely regular (cf. Completely regular space). A completely regular -space is called a Tikhonov space.

References

[1]	P.S. Aleksandrov, "Einführung in die Mengenlehre und die allgemeine Topologie" , Deutsch. Verlag Wissenschaft. (1984) (Translated from Russian)

Comments

The reader is warned that there is not really one convention here. There are authors who equate and regularity, and and normality and take both to include the -property, e.g., [a1].

In [a2] one finds the convention that "T3=regular+T1" and "T4=normal+T1" , where [a3] adopts "regular=T3+T1" and "normal=T4+T1" .

The standpoint of [a1] seems to be the most widely accepted.

The adjective "completely regular" is often associated with the letter .

References

[a1]	R. Engelking, "General topology" , Heldermann (1989)
[a2]	J.L. Kelley, "General topology" , Springer (1975)
[a3]	B. von Querenburg, "Mengentheoretische Topologie" , Springer (1973)