Chain Continuity and Scott-Closed Interpolation

Abstract

We prove that every chain-continuous dcpo is continuous and that its way-below relation is the relational square of its chain-below relation, answering a question of Erné. A subalgebra lattice obtained from a locally finite Jónsson algebra shows that the chain-below relation itself need not interpolate. For approximation by Scott-closed sets, we give a finite-upper-bound characterization on lower-set lattices and characterize interpolation by an extension property for directed lower sets. This yields a countably based, completely distributive algebraic lattice on which chain and directed approximation coincide, whereas Scott-closed approximation fails to interpolate, answering questions of Erné and of Ho and Zhao.