Generalised metric

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In mathematics, the concept of a generalised metric is a generalisation of that of a metric, in which the distance is not a real number but taken from an arbitrary ordered field.

In general, when we define metric space the distance function is taken to be a real-valued function. The real numbers form an ordered field which is Archimedean and order complete. So, the metric spaces have some nice properties like: in a metric space compactness, sequential compactness and countable compactness are equivalent etc etc. These properties may not, however, hold so easily if the distance function is taken in an arbitrary ordered field, instead of in \scriptstyle \mathbb R.

[edit] Preliminary definition

Let (F,+,\cdot,<) be an arbitrary ordered field, and M a nonempty set; a function d :M\times M\to F^+\cup\{0\} is called a metric on M, iff the following conditions hold:

  1. d(x,y)=0\Leftrightarrow x=y;
  2. d(x,y) = d(y,x), commutativity;
  3. d(x,y)=d(y,z)\le d(x,z), triangle inequality.

It is not difficult to verify that the open balls B(x,\delta)\;:=\{y\in M\;:d(x,y)<\delta\} form a basis for a suitable topology, the latter called the metric topology on M, with the metric in F.

In view of the fact that F in its order topology is monotonically normal, we would expect M to be at least regular.

[edit] Further properties

However, under axiom of choice, every general metric is monotonically normal, for, given x\in G, where G is open, there is an open ball B(x,δ) such that x\in B(x,\delta)\subseteq G. Take μ(x,G) = B(x,δ / 2). Verify the conditions for Monotone Normality.

The matter of wonder is that, even without choice, general metrics are monotonically normal.

proof.

Case I: F is Archimedean.

Now, if x in G,G open, we may take μ(x,G): = B(x,1 / 2n(x,G)), where n(x,G):= \min\{n\in\mathbb N:B(x,1/n)\subseteq G\}, and the trick is done without choice.

Case II: F is non-Archimedean.

For given x\in G where G is open, consider the set A(x,G):=\{a\in F\colon \forall n\in\mathbb N,B(x,n\cdot a)\subseteq G\}.

The set A(x, G) is non-empty. For, as G is open, there is an open ball B(x, k) within G. Now, as F is non-Archimdedean, \mathbb N_F is not bounded above, hence there is some \xi\in F with \forall n\in\mathbb N\colon n\cdot 1\le\xi. Putting a=k\cdot (2\xi)^{-1}, we see that a is in A(x, G).

Now define \mu(x,G)=\bigcup\{B(x,a)\colon a\in A(x,G)\}. We would show that with respect to this mu operator, the space is monotonically normal. Note that \mu(x,G)\subseteq G.

If y is not in G(open set containing x) and x is not in H(open set containing y), then we'd show that \mu(x,G)\cap\mu(y,H) is empty. If not, say z is in the intersection. Then

\exists a\in A(x,G)\colon d(x,z)<a;\;\; \exists b\in A(y,H)\colon d(z,y)<b.

From the above, we get that d(x,y)\le d(x,z)+d(z,y)<2\cdot\max\{a,b\}, which is impossible since this would imply that either y belongs to \mu(x,G)\subseteq G or x belongs to \mu(y,H)\subseteq H.

So we are done!

[edit] Discussion and links

  • Carlos R. Borges, A study of monotonically normal spaces, Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society, Vol. 38, No. 1. (Mar., 1973), pp. 211-214. [1]
  • FOM discussion link