THE WEIHRAUCH LATTICE AT THE LEVEL OF $\boldsymbol {\Pi }^1_1{-}\mathsf{CA}_0$: THE CANTOR–BENDIXSON THEOREM

Abstract This paper continues the program connecting reverse mathematics and computable analysis via the framework of Weihrauch reducibility. In particular, we consider problems related to perfect subsets of Polish spaces, studying the perfect set theorem, the Cantor–Bendixson theorem, and various problems arising from them. In the framework of reverse mathematics, these theorems are equivalent, respectively, to $\mathsf {ATR}_0$ and $\boldsymbol {\Pi }^1_1{-}\mathsf{CA}_0$ , the two strongest subsystems of second order arithmetic among the so-called big five. As far as we know, this is the first systematic study of problems at the level of $\boldsymbol {\Pi }^1_1{-}\mathsf{CA}_0$ in the Weihrauch lattice. We show that the strength of some of the problems we study depends on the topological properties of the Polish space under consideration, while others have the same strength once the space is rich enough.