We show that the fundamental groupoid~\(\Pi_1(X)\) of a locally path connected semilocally simply connected space~\(X\) can be equipped with a \emph{ natural} topology so that it becomes a topological groupoid; we also justify the necessity and minimality of these two hypotheses on~\(X\) in order to topologise the fundamental groupoid. We find that contrary to a belief -- especially among the Operator Algebraists -- the fundamental groupoid is not { \etale}. Further, we prove that the fundamental groupoid of a topological group, in particular a Lie group, is a \emph{ transformation groupoid}; again, this result disproves a standard belief that the fundamental groupoids are \emph{ far} away from being transformation groupoids. We also discuss the point-set topology on the fundamental groupoid with the intention of making it a locally compact groupoid.

Categories: math.AT

Topological fundamental groupoid. I