Example of a subspace of the p-adic numbers which is not locally compact

general-topologyp-adic-number-theory

Let $p$ be a prime number, and let $\mathbf{Q}_p$ be the field of $p$-adic numbers together with its topology derived from the $p$-adic valuation. Can someone give me an example (together with an argument) of a subspace of $\mathbf{Q}_p$ which is not locally compact? Thank you in advance.

P.S. My motivation arises from the fact that given the field of real numbers $\mathbb{R}$ together with its euclidean topology, the subspace of rational numbers $\mathbb{Q}$ is not locally compact. Maybe the same happens if we complete $\mathbb{Q}$ with respect to the metric arising from the $p-$adic valuation?

Best Answer

A subspace $A\subseteq X$ of a locally compact Hausdorff space $X$ is locally compact if and only if it is locally closed. That is if and only if $A$ is open in its closure $\overline A$.

Since $\mathbb{Q}_p$ is Hausdorff and locally compact the statement applies. The subspace $\mathbb{Q}$ is dense in $\mathbb{Q}_p$, but not open. Hence it cannot be locally compact in the subspace topology.

Note that the same arguement shows that $\mathbb{Q}$ is not locally compact in the subspace topology inherited from $\mathbb{R}$.

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