Existence of a certain near-metric map on an ordered divisible abelian group












3












$begingroup$


Let $mathcal{M}=(M,0,+,<)$ be a linearly ordered divisible abelian group. Let's define an $mathcal{M}$-metric on $M$ to be a map $d:Mtimes M rightarrow M$ such that



(1) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=0 Leftrightarrow x=y$,



(2) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=d(y,x)$,



(3) $forall x, y, zin M, , d(x,y) leq d(x,z) + d(z,y)$.



Note that one such map defines a topology on $M$ in the usual way that metrics do.



Let $tau$ be the right half-open interval topology in $M$. Namely the topology with basis ${ [x,x+varepsilon) : , x, varepsilonin M, varepsilon>0}$.




In there some $mathcal{M}$-metric on M that generates $tau$?




If $mathcal{M}=(mathbb{R},0,+,<)$ then the answer is no since the topological space described would be separable and not second countable, hence not metrizable.



Any ideas/intuitions regarding the question, even if they are not full answers, are apreciated.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    So just to be clear: you're looking for a characterization of those ordered divisible abelian groups with the property that they are metrizable when equipped with the half-open interval topology?
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 14:17










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman yes. Upfront the question is whether there are any at all.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 16:19










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman A totally ordered divisible group $(M,0,+,<)$ is always densely ordered since, for every $x, y in M$, if $x<y$ then $x<frac{x+y}{2}<y$. Or maybe you meant that it could be not totally ordered? I was asumming that it was. I'll edit the question to make this explicit.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:25












  • $begingroup$
    Oh, I missed that you were only asking about divisible groups! Sorry
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:44
















3












$begingroup$


Let $mathcal{M}=(M,0,+,<)$ be a linearly ordered divisible abelian group. Let's define an $mathcal{M}$-metric on $M$ to be a map $d:Mtimes M rightarrow M$ such that



(1) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=0 Leftrightarrow x=y$,



(2) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=d(y,x)$,



(3) $forall x, y, zin M, , d(x,y) leq d(x,z) + d(z,y)$.



Note that one such map defines a topology on $M$ in the usual way that metrics do.



Let $tau$ be the right half-open interval topology in $M$. Namely the topology with basis ${ [x,x+varepsilon) : , x, varepsilonin M, varepsilon>0}$.




In there some $mathcal{M}$-metric on M that generates $tau$?




If $mathcal{M}=(mathbb{R},0,+,<)$ then the answer is no since the topological space described would be separable and not second countable, hence not metrizable.



Any ideas/intuitions regarding the question, even if they are not full answers, are apreciated.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    So just to be clear: you're looking for a characterization of those ordered divisible abelian groups with the property that they are metrizable when equipped with the half-open interval topology?
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 14:17










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman yes. Upfront the question is whether there are any at all.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 16:19










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman A totally ordered divisible group $(M,0,+,<)$ is always densely ordered since, for every $x, y in M$, if $x<y$ then $x<frac{x+y}{2}<y$. Or maybe you meant that it could be not totally ordered? I was asumming that it was. I'll edit the question to make this explicit.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:25












  • $begingroup$
    Oh, I missed that you were only asking about divisible groups! Sorry
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:44














3












3








3


1



$begingroup$


Let $mathcal{M}=(M,0,+,<)$ be a linearly ordered divisible abelian group. Let's define an $mathcal{M}$-metric on $M$ to be a map $d:Mtimes M rightarrow M$ such that



(1) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=0 Leftrightarrow x=y$,



(2) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=d(y,x)$,



(3) $forall x, y, zin M, , d(x,y) leq d(x,z) + d(z,y)$.



Note that one such map defines a topology on $M$ in the usual way that metrics do.



Let $tau$ be the right half-open interval topology in $M$. Namely the topology with basis ${ [x,x+varepsilon) : , x, varepsilonin M, varepsilon>0}$.




In there some $mathcal{M}$-metric on M that generates $tau$?




If $mathcal{M}=(mathbb{R},0,+,<)$ then the answer is no since the topological space described would be separable and not second countable, hence not metrizable.



Any ideas/intuitions regarding the question, even if they are not full answers, are apreciated.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




Let $mathcal{M}=(M,0,+,<)$ be a linearly ordered divisible abelian group. Let's define an $mathcal{M}$-metric on $M$ to be a map $d:Mtimes M rightarrow M$ such that



(1) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=0 Leftrightarrow x=y$,



(2) $forall x,yin M,, d(x,y)=d(y,x)$,



(3) $forall x, y, zin M, , d(x,y) leq d(x,z) + d(z,y)$.



Note that one such map defines a topology on $M$ in the usual way that metrics do.



Let $tau$ be the right half-open interval topology in $M$. Namely the topology with basis ${ [x,x+varepsilon) : , x, varepsilonin M, varepsilon>0}$.




In there some $mathcal{M}$-metric on M that generates $tau$?




If $mathcal{M}=(mathbb{R},0,+,<)$ then the answer is no since the topological space described would be separable and not second countable, hence not metrizable.



Any ideas/intuitions regarding the question, even if they are not full answers, are apreciated.







general-topology metric-spaces abelian-groups model-theory ordered-groups






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share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited Jun 22 '17 at 19:29







Anguepa

















asked Jun 22 '17 at 0:19









AnguepaAnguepa

1,406819




1,406819












  • $begingroup$
    So just to be clear: you're looking for a characterization of those ordered divisible abelian groups with the property that they are metrizable when equipped with the half-open interval topology?
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 14:17










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman yes. Upfront the question is whether there are any at all.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 16:19










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman A totally ordered divisible group $(M,0,+,<)$ is always densely ordered since, for every $x, y in M$, if $x<y$ then $x<frac{x+y}{2}<y$. Or maybe you meant that it could be not totally ordered? I was asumming that it was. I'll edit the question to make this explicit.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:25












  • $begingroup$
    Oh, I missed that you were only asking about divisible groups! Sorry
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:44


















  • $begingroup$
    So just to be clear: you're looking for a characterization of those ordered divisible abelian groups with the property that they are metrizable when equipped with the half-open interval topology?
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 14:17










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman yes. Upfront the question is whether there are any at all.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 16:19










  • $begingroup$
    @AlexKruckman A totally ordered divisible group $(M,0,+,<)$ is always densely ordered since, for every $x, y in M$, if $x<y$ then $x<frac{x+y}{2}<y$. Or maybe you meant that it could be not totally ordered? I was asumming that it was. I'll edit the question to make this explicit.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:25












  • $begingroup$
    Oh, I missed that you were only asking about divisible groups! Sorry
    $endgroup$
    – Alex Kruckman
    Jun 22 '17 at 19:44
















$begingroup$
So just to be clear: you're looking for a characterization of those ordered divisible abelian groups with the property that they are metrizable when equipped with the half-open interval topology?
$endgroup$
– Alex Kruckman
Jun 22 '17 at 14:17




$begingroup$
So just to be clear: you're looking for a characterization of those ordered divisible abelian groups with the property that they are metrizable when equipped with the half-open interval topology?
$endgroup$
– Alex Kruckman
Jun 22 '17 at 14:17












$begingroup$
@AlexKruckman yes. Upfront the question is whether there are any at all.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Jun 22 '17 at 16:19




$begingroup$
@AlexKruckman yes. Upfront the question is whether there are any at all.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Jun 22 '17 at 16:19












$begingroup$
@AlexKruckman A totally ordered divisible group $(M,0,+,<)$ is always densely ordered since, for every $x, y in M$, if $x<y$ then $x<frac{x+y}{2}<y$. Or maybe you meant that it could be not totally ordered? I was asumming that it was. I'll edit the question to make this explicit.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Jun 22 '17 at 19:25






$begingroup$
@AlexKruckman A totally ordered divisible group $(M,0,+,<)$ is always densely ordered since, for every $x, y in M$, if $x<y$ then $x<frac{x+y}{2}<y$. Or maybe you meant that it could be not totally ordered? I was asumming that it was. I'll edit the question to make this explicit.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Jun 22 '17 at 19:25














$begingroup$
Oh, I missed that you were only asking about divisible groups! Sorry
$endgroup$
– Alex Kruckman
Jun 22 '17 at 19:44




$begingroup$
Oh, I missed that you were only asking about divisible groups! Sorry
$endgroup$
– Alex Kruckman
Jun 22 '17 at 19:44










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















1





+50







$begingroup$

To manage expectations, let me start with a simple observation. $M$ does not admit a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric. If $rho$ is a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $rho(x, 0) = rho(-x, 0)$
for all $x$, which means that any open ball about $0$ is symmetric. Hence
the open set $[0, rightarrow)$ cannot contain such a ball. This suggests
that even if a metric exists, it may not be very useful.



The same reasoning applied to $mathbb{R}$ can be applied to many other cases. If $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $d(M) = |M|$, i.e. $M$ does not have a dense subset of lower cardinality. Since the balls with centre and radius in a dense subset form a base for the topology, we have
$w(M) le d(M)d(M) = d(M)$. On the other hand we have $w(M) ge |M|$ for
the same reason as in $mathbb{R}$. (Note that here we do not have to distinguish between order-dense, dense in the
order topology and dense in the half-open interval topology, as they are
equivalent for a dense linear order.)



This necessary condition can be sharpened by an observation that is useful
for non-Archimedean groups. If $mathcal{N}$ is a nontrivial convex
subgroup of $mathcal{M}$, the following are equivalent:




  1. $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  2. $N$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  3. $N$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric

  4. $M$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric


That 4. implies 1. is trivial and 1. implies 2. because the restriction of a metric to a subspace induces the subspace topology.
The implication $2. implies 3.$ can be obtained by taking a positive $b inmathcal{N}$ and defining $sigma(x, y) = min{rho(x,y), b}$ as usual. Since $N$ is open in $M$, the quotient $M/N$ is discrete and
$M$ is homeomorphic to $(M/N) times N$. Hence, given an
$mathcal{N}$-metric on $N$, we can make $M$ locally isometric to $N$ to
arrive at 4.



Giving a useful necessary and sufficient condition is probably very hard,
but there is a sufficient condition that is not too difficult. If $mathcal{M}$ has a nontrivial countable convex subgroup, $M$ admits an
$mathcal{M}$-metric.
By the previous result, we need only consider the
case $|M| = aleph_0$. Let $B$ be the set of real numbers between 0 and 1
whose binary expansions have finitely many ones. This is also a countable
dense linearly ordered set with no minimum or maximum, so it is order-isomorphic to $M$. It will suffice then to find an $mathcal{M}$-metric
that induces the half-open interval topology on $B$.



Since $M$ is countable, there is a strictly decreasing
sequence ${a_n}$ of positive elements with $inf_n a_n = 0$. Define
$rho(x, y) = 0$ when $x=y$ and otherwise $rho(x, y) = a_m$, where $m$ is the largest integer such that the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ are
equal to $m$ places. Symmetry and positivity of $rho$ are obvious and it
is easily seen to satisfy the ultrametric triangle inequality
$rho(x, z) le max{rho(x, y),rho(y,z)}$.



To see that the topology induced by $rho$ is finer that the half-open interval topology, note that in the latter a point $x$ has a base of
neighbourhoods of the form $[x, y)$ where $y>x$. There is an $n$ such that
the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ contain no ones after the $n$th place.
For such $n$, the $rho$-ball of radius $a_{n+1}$ about $x$ is contained in
$[x, y)$. Similarly, the topology induced by $rho$ is coarser than the
half-open interval topology, since every $rho$-ball about $x$ contains a
half-open interval starting at $x$. Thus $rho$ induces the half-open
interval topology on $B$.



Note that under the same hypothesis, $M$ also admits a real-valued metric,
by Urysohn's metrization theorem.





Side note: For topological purposes, it usually makes no difference
whether a ordered abelian group is divisible or just densely ordered. On one hand, in a densely ordered group there is for every $b > 0$ and every
positive integer $n$ an $a > 0$ such that $na <= b$. On the other hand,
in a divisible group there may be no $a > 0$ such that
$lim_{ntoinfty} a/n = 0$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    This is great. Thank you. So for example the right half-open interval topology on $(mathbb{Q},<)$ is $mathbb{Q}$-metrizable.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Apr 15 '18 at 19:28










  • $begingroup$
    To prove the observation on densely ordered groups in the side note in Niels' answer let $0<a<b$ and note that either $2aleq b$ or $2(b-a)< b$.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Dec 18 '18 at 19:21













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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









1





+50







$begingroup$

To manage expectations, let me start with a simple observation. $M$ does not admit a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric. If $rho$ is a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $rho(x, 0) = rho(-x, 0)$
for all $x$, which means that any open ball about $0$ is symmetric. Hence
the open set $[0, rightarrow)$ cannot contain such a ball. This suggests
that even if a metric exists, it may not be very useful.



The same reasoning applied to $mathbb{R}$ can be applied to many other cases. If $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $d(M) = |M|$, i.e. $M$ does not have a dense subset of lower cardinality. Since the balls with centre and radius in a dense subset form a base for the topology, we have
$w(M) le d(M)d(M) = d(M)$. On the other hand we have $w(M) ge |M|$ for
the same reason as in $mathbb{R}$. (Note that here we do not have to distinguish between order-dense, dense in the
order topology and dense in the half-open interval topology, as they are
equivalent for a dense linear order.)



This necessary condition can be sharpened by an observation that is useful
for non-Archimedean groups. If $mathcal{N}$ is a nontrivial convex
subgroup of $mathcal{M}$, the following are equivalent:




  1. $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  2. $N$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  3. $N$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric

  4. $M$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric


That 4. implies 1. is trivial and 1. implies 2. because the restriction of a metric to a subspace induces the subspace topology.
The implication $2. implies 3.$ can be obtained by taking a positive $b inmathcal{N}$ and defining $sigma(x, y) = min{rho(x,y), b}$ as usual. Since $N$ is open in $M$, the quotient $M/N$ is discrete and
$M$ is homeomorphic to $(M/N) times N$. Hence, given an
$mathcal{N}$-metric on $N$, we can make $M$ locally isometric to $N$ to
arrive at 4.



Giving a useful necessary and sufficient condition is probably very hard,
but there is a sufficient condition that is not too difficult. If $mathcal{M}$ has a nontrivial countable convex subgroup, $M$ admits an
$mathcal{M}$-metric.
By the previous result, we need only consider the
case $|M| = aleph_0$. Let $B$ be the set of real numbers between 0 and 1
whose binary expansions have finitely many ones. This is also a countable
dense linearly ordered set with no minimum or maximum, so it is order-isomorphic to $M$. It will suffice then to find an $mathcal{M}$-metric
that induces the half-open interval topology on $B$.



Since $M$ is countable, there is a strictly decreasing
sequence ${a_n}$ of positive elements with $inf_n a_n = 0$. Define
$rho(x, y) = 0$ when $x=y$ and otherwise $rho(x, y) = a_m$, where $m$ is the largest integer such that the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ are
equal to $m$ places. Symmetry and positivity of $rho$ are obvious and it
is easily seen to satisfy the ultrametric triangle inequality
$rho(x, z) le max{rho(x, y),rho(y,z)}$.



To see that the topology induced by $rho$ is finer that the half-open interval topology, note that in the latter a point $x$ has a base of
neighbourhoods of the form $[x, y)$ where $y>x$. There is an $n$ such that
the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ contain no ones after the $n$th place.
For such $n$, the $rho$-ball of radius $a_{n+1}$ about $x$ is contained in
$[x, y)$. Similarly, the topology induced by $rho$ is coarser than the
half-open interval topology, since every $rho$-ball about $x$ contains a
half-open interval starting at $x$. Thus $rho$ induces the half-open
interval topology on $B$.



Note that under the same hypothesis, $M$ also admits a real-valued metric,
by Urysohn's metrization theorem.





Side note: For topological purposes, it usually makes no difference
whether a ordered abelian group is divisible or just densely ordered. On one hand, in a densely ordered group there is for every $b > 0$ and every
positive integer $n$ an $a > 0$ such that $na <= b$. On the other hand,
in a divisible group there may be no $a > 0$ such that
$lim_{ntoinfty} a/n = 0$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    This is great. Thank you. So for example the right half-open interval topology on $(mathbb{Q},<)$ is $mathbb{Q}$-metrizable.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Apr 15 '18 at 19:28










  • $begingroup$
    To prove the observation on densely ordered groups in the side note in Niels' answer let $0<a<b$ and note that either $2aleq b$ or $2(b-a)< b$.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Dec 18 '18 at 19:21


















1





+50







$begingroup$

To manage expectations, let me start with a simple observation. $M$ does not admit a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric. If $rho$ is a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $rho(x, 0) = rho(-x, 0)$
for all $x$, which means that any open ball about $0$ is symmetric. Hence
the open set $[0, rightarrow)$ cannot contain such a ball. This suggests
that even if a metric exists, it may not be very useful.



The same reasoning applied to $mathbb{R}$ can be applied to many other cases. If $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $d(M) = |M|$, i.e. $M$ does not have a dense subset of lower cardinality. Since the balls with centre and radius in a dense subset form a base for the topology, we have
$w(M) le d(M)d(M) = d(M)$. On the other hand we have $w(M) ge |M|$ for
the same reason as in $mathbb{R}$. (Note that here we do not have to distinguish between order-dense, dense in the
order topology and dense in the half-open interval topology, as they are
equivalent for a dense linear order.)



This necessary condition can be sharpened by an observation that is useful
for non-Archimedean groups. If $mathcal{N}$ is a nontrivial convex
subgroup of $mathcal{M}$, the following are equivalent:




  1. $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  2. $N$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  3. $N$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric

  4. $M$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric


That 4. implies 1. is trivial and 1. implies 2. because the restriction of a metric to a subspace induces the subspace topology.
The implication $2. implies 3.$ can be obtained by taking a positive $b inmathcal{N}$ and defining $sigma(x, y) = min{rho(x,y), b}$ as usual. Since $N$ is open in $M$, the quotient $M/N$ is discrete and
$M$ is homeomorphic to $(M/N) times N$. Hence, given an
$mathcal{N}$-metric on $N$, we can make $M$ locally isometric to $N$ to
arrive at 4.



Giving a useful necessary and sufficient condition is probably very hard,
but there is a sufficient condition that is not too difficult. If $mathcal{M}$ has a nontrivial countable convex subgroup, $M$ admits an
$mathcal{M}$-metric.
By the previous result, we need only consider the
case $|M| = aleph_0$. Let $B$ be the set of real numbers between 0 and 1
whose binary expansions have finitely many ones. This is also a countable
dense linearly ordered set with no minimum or maximum, so it is order-isomorphic to $M$. It will suffice then to find an $mathcal{M}$-metric
that induces the half-open interval topology on $B$.



Since $M$ is countable, there is a strictly decreasing
sequence ${a_n}$ of positive elements with $inf_n a_n = 0$. Define
$rho(x, y) = 0$ when $x=y$ and otherwise $rho(x, y) = a_m$, where $m$ is the largest integer such that the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ are
equal to $m$ places. Symmetry and positivity of $rho$ are obvious and it
is easily seen to satisfy the ultrametric triangle inequality
$rho(x, z) le max{rho(x, y),rho(y,z)}$.



To see that the topology induced by $rho$ is finer that the half-open interval topology, note that in the latter a point $x$ has a base of
neighbourhoods of the form $[x, y)$ where $y>x$. There is an $n$ such that
the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ contain no ones after the $n$th place.
For such $n$, the $rho$-ball of radius $a_{n+1}$ about $x$ is contained in
$[x, y)$. Similarly, the topology induced by $rho$ is coarser than the
half-open interval topology, since every $rho$-ball about $x$ contains a
half-open interval starting at $x$. Thus $rho$ induces the half-open
interval topology on $B$.



Note that under the same hypothesis, $M$ also admits a real-valued metric,
by Urysohn's metrization theorem.





Side note: For topological purposes, it usually makes no difference
whether a ordered abelian group is divisible or just densely ordered. On one hand, in a densely ordered group there is for every $b > 0$ and every
positive integer $n$ an $a > 0$ such that $na <= b$. On the other hand,
in a divisible group there may be no $a > 0$ such that
$lim_{ntoinfty} a/n = 0$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    This is great. Thank you. So for example the right half-open interval topology on $(mathbb{Q},<)$ is $mathbb{Q}$-metrizable.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Apr 15 '18 at 19:28










  • $begingroup$
    To prove the observation on densely ordered groups in the side note in Niels' answer let $0<a<b$ and note that either $2aleq b$ or $2(b-a)< b$.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Dec 18 '18 at 19:21
















1





+50







1





+50



1




+50



$begingroup$

To manage expectations, let me start with a simple observation. $M$ does not admit a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric. If $rho$ is a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $rho(x, 0) = rho(-x, 0)$
for all $x$, which means that any open ball about $0$ is symmetric. Hence
the open set $[0, rightarrow)$ cannot contain such a ball. This suggests
that even if a metric exists, it may not be very useful.



The same reasoning applied to $mathbb{R}$ can be applied to many other cases. If $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $d(M) = |M|$, i.e. $M$ does not have a dense subset of lower cardinality. Since the balls with centre and radius in a dense subset form a base for the topology, we have
$w(M) le d(M)d(M) = d(M)$. On the other hand we have $w(M) ge |M|$ for
the same reason as in $mathbb{R}$. (Note that here we do not have to distinguish between order-dense, dense in the
order topology and dense in the half-open interval topology, as they are
equivalent for a dense linear order.)



This necessary condition can be sharpened by an observation that is useful
for non-Archimedean groups. If $mathcal{N}$ is a nontrivial convex
subgroup of $mathcal{M}$, the following are equivalent:




  1. $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  2. $N$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  3. $N$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric

  4. $M$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric


That 4. implies 1. is trivial and 1. implies 2. because the restriction of a metric to a subspace induces the subspace topology.
The implication $2. implies 3.$ can be obtained by taking a positive $b inmathcal{N}$ and defining $sigma(x, y) = min{rho(x,y), b}$ as usual. Since $N$ is open in $M$, the quotient $M/N$ is discrete and
$M$ is homeomorphic to $(M/N) times N$. Hence, given an
$mathcal{N}$-metric on $N$, we can make $M$ locally isometric to $N$ to
arrive at 4.



Giving a useful necessary and sufficient condition is probably very hard,
but there is a sufficient condition that is not too difficult. If $mathcal{M}$ has a nontrivial countable convex subgroup, $M$ admits an
$mathcal{M}$-metric.
By the previous result, we need only consider the
case $|M| = aleph_0$. Let $B$ be the set of real numbers between 0 and 1
whose binary expansions have finitely many ones. This is also a countable
dense linearly ordered set with no minimum or maximum, so it is order-isomorphic to $M$. It will suffice then to find an $mathcal{M}$-metric
that induces the half-open interval topology on $B$.



Since $M$ is countable, there is a strictly decreasing
sequence ${a_n}$ of positive elements with $inf_n a_n = 0$. Define
$rho(x, y) = 0$ when $x=y$ and otherwise $rho(x, y) = a_m$, where $m$ is the largest integer such that the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ are
equal to $m$ places. Symmetry and positivity of $rho$ are obvious and it
is easily seen to satisfy the ultrametric triangle inequality
$rho(x, z) le max{rho(x, y),rho(y,z)}$.



To see that the topology induced by $rho$ is finer that the half-open interval topology, note that in the latter a point $x$ has a base of
neighbourhoods of the form $[x, y)$ where $y>x$. There is an $n$ such that
the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ contain no ones after the $n$th place.
For such $n$, the $rho$-ball of radius $a_{n+1}$ about $x$ is contained in
$[x, y)$. Similarly, the topology induced by $rho$ is coarser than the
half-open interval topology, since every $rho$-ball about $x$ contains a
half-open interval starting at $x$. Thus $rho$ induces the half-open
interval topology on $B$.



Note that under the same hypothesis, $M$ also admits a real-valued metric,
by Urysohn's metrization theorem.





Side note: For topological purposes, it usually makes no difference
whether a ordered abelian group is divisible or just densely ordered. On one hand, in a densely ordered group there is for every $b > 0$ and every
positive integer $n$ an $a > 0$ such that $na <= b$. On the other hand,
in a divisible group there may be no $a > 0$ such that
$lim_{ntoinfty} a/n = 0$.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$



To manage expectations, let me start with a simple observation. $M$ does not admit a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric. If $rho$ is a translation-invariant $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $rho(x, 0) = rho(-x, 0)$
for all $x$, which means that any open ball about $0$ is symmetric. Hence
the open set $[0, rightarrow)$ cannot contain such a ball. This suggests
that even if a metric exists, it may not be very useful.



The same reasoning applied to $mathbb{R}$ can be applied to many other cases. If $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric, then $d(M) = |M|$, i.e. $M$ does not have a dense subset of lower cardinality. Since the balls with centre and radius in a dense subset form a base for the topology, we have
$w(M) le d(M)d(M) = d(M)$. On the other hand we have $w(M) ge |M|$ for
the same reason as in $mathbb{R}$. (Note that here we do not have to distinguish between order-dense, dense in the
order topology and dense in the half-open interval topology, as they are
equivalent for a dense linear order.)



This necessary condition can be sharpened by an observation that is useful
for non-Archimedean groups. If $mathcal{N}$ is a nontrivial convex
subgroup of $mathcal{M}$, the following are equivalent:




  1. $M$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  2. $N$ admits an $mathcal{M}$-metric

  3. $N$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric

  4. $M$ admits an $mathcal{N}$-metric


That 4. implies 1. is trivial and 1. implies 2. because the restriction of a metric to a subspace induces the subspace topology.
The implication $2. implies 3.$ can be obtained by taking a positive $b inmathcal{N}$ and defining $sigma(x, y) = min{rho(x,y), b}$ as usual. Since $N$ is open in $M$, the quotient $M/N$ is discrete and
$M$ is homeomorphic to $(M/N) times N$. Hence, given an
$mathcal{N}$-metric on $N$, we can make $M$ locally isometric to $N$ to
arrive at 4.



Giving a useful necessary and sufficient condition is probably very hard,
but there is a sufficient condition that is not too difficult. If $mathcal{M}$ has a nontrivial countable convex subgroup, $M$ admits an
$mathcal{M}$-metric.
By the previous result, we need only consider the
case $|M| = aleph_0$. Let $B$ be the set of real numbers between 0 and 1
whose binary expansions have finitely many ones. This is also a countable
dense linearly ordered set with no minimum or maximum, so it is order-isomorphic to $M$. It will suffice then to find an $mathcal{M}$-metric
that induces the half-open interval topology on $B$.



Since $M$ is countable, there is a strictly decreasing
sequence ${a_n}$ of positive elements with $inf_n a_n = 0$. Define
$rho(x, y) = 0$ when $x=y$ and otherwise $rho(x, y) = a_m$, where $m$ is the largest integer such that the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ are
equal to $m$ places. Symmetry and positivity of $rho$ are obvious and it
is easily seen to satisfy the ultrametric triangle inequality
$rho(x, z) le max{rho(x, y),rho(y,z)}$.



To see that the topology induced by $rho$ is finer that the half-open interval topology, note that in the latter a point $x$ has a base of
neighbourhoods of the form $[x, y)$ where $y>x$. There is an $n$ such that
the binary expansions of $x$ and $y$ contain no ones after the $n$th place.
For such $n$, the $rho$-ball of radius $a_{n+1}$ about $x$ is contained in
$[x, y)$. Similarly, the topology induced by $rho$ is coarser than the
half-open interval topology, since every $rho$-ball about $x$ contains a
half-open interval starting at $x$. Thus $rho$ induces the half-open
interval topology on $B$.



Note that under the same hypothesis, $M$ also admits a real-valued metric,
by Urysohn's metrization theorem.





Side note: For topological purposes, it usually makes no difference
whether a ordered abelian group is divisible or just densely ordered. On one hand, in a densely ordered group there is for every $b > 0$ and every
positive integer $n$ an $a > 0$ such that $na <= b$. On the other hand,
in a divisible group there may be no $a > 0$ such that
$lim_{ntoinfty} a/n = 0$.







share|cite|improve this answer












share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer










answered Jul 31 '17 at 11:33









Niels J. DiepeveenNiels J. Diepeveen

5,8491931




5,8491931












  • $begingroup$
    This is great. Thank you. So for example the right half-open interval topology on $(mathbb{Q},<)$ is $mathbb{Q}$-metrizable.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Apr 15 '18 at 19:28










  • $begingroup$
    To prove the observation on densely ordered groups in the side note in Niels' answer let $0<a<b$ and note that either $2aleq b$ or $2(b-a)< b$.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Dec 18 '18 at 19:21




















  • $begingroup$
    This is great. Thank you. So for example the right half-open interval topology on $(mathbb{Q},<)$ is $mathbb{Q}$-metrizable.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Apr 15 '18 at 19:28










  • $begingroup$
    To prove the observation on densely ordered groups in the side note in Niels' answer let $0<a<b$ and note that either $2aleq b$ or $2(b-a)< b$.
    $endgroup$
    – Anguepa
    Dec 18 '18 at 19:21


















$begingroup$
This is great. Thank you. So for example the right half-open interval topology on $(mathbb{Q},<)$ is $mathbb{Q}$-metrizable.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Apr 15 '18 at 19:28




$begingroup$
This is great. Thank you. So for example the right half-open interval topology on $(mathbb{Q},<)$ is $mathbb{Q}$-metrizable.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Apr 15 '18 at 19:28












$begingroup$
To prove the observation on densely ordered groups in the side note in Niels' answer let $0<a<b$ and note that either $2aleq b$ or $2(b-a)< b$.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Dec 18 '18 at 19:21






$begingroup$
To prove the observation on densely ordered groups in the side note in Niels' answer let $0<a<b$ and note that either $2aleq b$ or $2(b-a)< b$.
$endgroup$
– Anguepa
Dec 18 '18 at 19:21




















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