Astra-led proof extends a Vietoris obstruction to countable ordinals

For every ordinal ω<α<ω₁, Almeida’s compact-range Vietoris power K(α,ord), with its range-plus-finite-coordinate topology, is second-countable and Lindelöf but neither σ-compact nor Menger. The Lean theorem ordinal_full covers this interval by a delayed diagonal.

Sources for this record

What was already known

Almeida had proved the ω+1 case. Caruvana and Holshouser asked for the wider countable-ordinal interval.

AI involvement AI-centered

ChatGPT-Astra developed the general argument and Lean proof under Almeida’s direction. Almeida supplied the earlier case, target generalization and diagonal direction, and explains the shorter transfer.

Astra supplied the retained general argument and formal proof, while Almeida supplied the problem, earlier theorem and diagonal direction.

Importance Notable

The theorem answers that stated extension question for every countable ordinal above ω.

Limitations

The human paper’s shorter closed-subspace transfer is separate from the delayed-diagonal proof checked in Lean. The repository reports a pinned recheck, but no independent expert review.

Technical verification Formal (Lean 4.19.0)

The repository reports a complete Lean 4.19 check of ordinal_full at a cited mathlib revision and a later modular recheck with source hashes and only standard logical axioms. The runs were not reproduced here.

Formal checking

Pinned modular compilation, transitive axiom audit and unchanged source-hash check on September 30

Checker
Lean 4.19.0 under Almeida’s direction, using Codex
Scope
ordinal_full for all ω<α<ω₁: second countable, Lindelöf, non-σ-compact and non-Menger
Basis
Reported by the linked checker
Evidence source

Checking a formal statement does not establish that it matches the original problem.

Human understanding Full

Almeida’s README explains the shorter closed-subspace transfer and the relationship to the formal delayed diagonal proof.

Correction and publication history

2026-10-18 · publication

The theorem answers that stated extension question for every countable ordinal above ω.

Read this published revision