# Tube lemma

In mathematics, particularly topology, the tube lemma is a useful tool in order to prove that the finite product of compact spaces is compact. It is in general, a concept of point-set topology.

Before giving the lemma, one notes the following terminology:

• If X and Y are topological spaces and X × Y is the product space, a slice in X × Y is a set of the form {x} × Y for x ∈ X
• A tube in X × Y is just a basis element, K × Y, in X × Y containing a slice in X × Y

Tube Lemma: Let X and Y be topological spaces with Y compact, and consider the product space X × Y. If N is an open set containing a slice in X × Y, then there exists a tube in X × Y containing this slice and contained in N.

Using the concept of closed maps, this can be rephrased concisely as follows: if X is any topological space and Y a compact space, then the projection map X × Y → X is closed.

Generalized Tube Lemma: Let X and Y be topological spaces and consider the product space X × Y. Let A be a compact subset of X and B be a compact subset of Y. If N is an open set containing A × B, then there exists U open in X and V open in Y such that $A\times B\subset U\times V\subset N$.

## Examples and properties

1. Consider R × R in the product topology, that is the Euclidean plane, and the open set N = { (x, y) : |x·y| < 1 }. The open set N contains {0} × R, but contains no tube, so in this case the tube lemma fails. Indeed, if W × R is a tube containing {0} × R and contained in N, W must be a subset of (−1/x, +1/x) for all positive integers x which means W = {0} contradicting the fact that W is open in R (because W × R is a tube). This shows that the compactness assumption is essential.

2. The tube lemma can be used to prove that if X and Y are compact topological spaces, then X × Y is compact as follows:

Let {Ga} be an open cover of X × Y; for each x belonging to X, cover the slice {x} × Y by finitely many elements of {Ga} (this is possible since {x} × Y is compact being homeomorphic to Y). Call the union of these finitely many elements Nx. By the tube lemma, there is an open set of the form Wx × Y containing {x} × Y and contained in Nx. The collection of all Wx for x belonging to X is an open cover of X and hence has a finite subcover Wx1  ∪ ... ∪ Wxn. Then for each xi, Wxi × Y is contained in Nxi. Using the fact that each Nxi is the finite union of elements of Ga and that the finite collection (Wx1 × Y) ∪ ... ∪ (Wxn × Y) covers X × Y, the collection Nx1 ∪ ... ∪ Nxn is a finite subcover of X × Y.

3. By example 2 and induction, one can show that the finite product of compact spaces is compact.

4. The tube lemma cannot be used to prove the Tychonoff theorem, which generalizes the above to infinite products.

## Proof

The tube lemma follows from the generalized tube lemma by taking $A=\{x\}$ and $B=Y$. It therefore suffices to prove the generalized tube lemma. By the definition of the product topology, for each $(a,b)\in A\times B$ there are open sets $U_{a,b}\subset X$ and $V_{a,b}\subset Y$ such that $(a,b)\in U_{a,b}\times V_{a,b}\subset N$. Fix some $a\in A$. Then $(V_{a,b}:b\in B)$ is an open cover of $B$. Since $B$ is compact, this cover has a finite subcover; namely, there is a finite $B_0(a)\subset B$ such that $V'_{a}:=\bigcup_{b\in B_0(a)} V_{a,b}\supset B$. Set $U'_a:=\bigcap_{b\in B_0(a)} U_{a,b}$. Since $B_0(a)$ is finite, $U'_a$ is open. Also $V'_{a}$ is open. Moreover, the construction of $U'_a$ and $V'_a$ implies that $\{a\}\times B\subset U'_a\times V'_a\subset N$. We now essentially repeat the argument to drop the dependence on $a$. Let $A_0\subset A$ be a finite subset such that $U'':=\bigcup_{a\in A_0}U'_a\supset A$ and set $V'':=\bigcap_{a\in A_0}V'_a$. It then follows by the above reasoning that $A\times B\subset U''\times V''\subset N$ and $U''\subset X$ and $V''\subset Y$ are open, which completes the proof.