Homogeneous continua in 2-manifolds

Abstract

In 1960 R.H. Bing [2] proved that every homogeneous plane continuum that contains an arc is a simple closed curve. At that time Bing [2, p. 228] asked if every 1-dimensional homogeneous continuum that contains an arc and lies on a 2-manifold is a simple closed curve. We prove that no 2-manifold contains uncountably many disjoint triods. We use this theorem and decomposition theorems of F.B. Jones [10] and H.C. Wiser [19] to answer Bing's question in the affirmative. We also prove that every homogeneous indecomposable continuum in a 2-manifold can be embedded in the plane. It follows from this result and another theorem of Wiser [20] that every homogeneous continuum that is properly contained in an orientable 2-manifold is planar.