Monday, 21 May 2007

Category Theory / Topology Question

Let me begin by noting that I know quite little about category theory. So forgive me if the title is too vague, if the question is trivial, and if the question is written poorly.



Let $mathcal{C}$ and $mathcal{D}$ be categories. Say that a functor $T: mathcal{C} to mathcal{D}$ has property X (maybe there is a real name for this property?) if a morphism $f: A to B$ between objects of $mathcal{C}$ is an isomorphism whenever $T(f): T(A) to T(B)$ is an isomorphism. For example, the obvious forgetful functor $CH to Set$ where $CH$ is the category of compact Hausdorff spaces has property X because a continuous bijection from a compact space to a Hausdorff space is automatically a homeomorphism.



Here is my question. Is there a (nontrivial) functor $T: LCH to mathcal{D}$ from the category of locally compact Hausdorff spaces to some category $mathcal{D}$ with property X? Even better, can we assume that $LCH$ is a subcategory of $mathcal{D}$ and that $T$ is a forgetful functor?



I don't care to specify what I mean by "nontrivial", except that the "identity" functor from $LCH$ to itself doesn't count. I want it to be genuinely easier to decide whether or not a morphism is an isomorphism in $mathcal{D}$. If there happen to be lots of ways to do this, perhaps it will help to know that my interest comes from some problems in analysis.



Thanks in advance!

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