McKinsey-Tarski algebras: An alternative pointfree approach to topology

Abstract

McKinsey and Tarski initiated the study of interior algebras. We propose complete interior algebras as an alternative pointfree approach to topology. We term these algebras McKinsey-Tarski algebras or simply MT-algebras. Associating with each MT-algebra the lattice of its open elements defines a functor from the category of MT-algebras to the category of frames, which we study in depth. We also study the dual adjunction between the categories of MT-algebras and topological spaces, and show that MT-algebras provide a faithful generalization of topological spaces. Our main emphasis is on developing a unified approach to separation axioms in the language of MT-algebras, which generalizes separation axioms for both topological spaces and frames.