On uniformly discrete subsets in uniform spaces and topological groups (Q2520742)

A subset \(D\) of a uniform space \((X, \mathcal{U})\) is called uniformly discrete if there exists an entourage \(U \in \mathcal{U}\) such that \((x,y) \notin U\) for every pair \( x,y\) of distinct points in \(D\). This interesting paper is a thorough investigation of the role of uniformly discrete subsets of separated uniform spaces. It is shown, for example, that a separated uniform space is precompact if and only if each of its uniformly discrete subsets is finite. The authors then introduce, for uniform spaces \(X\), the uniformly discrete number \(\mathrm{ud}(X)\) as \(\mathrm{sup}\{|D|: D \mathrm{ is a uniformly discrete subset of}\;X\}\) and prove that, for separated uniform spaces \(X\), \(\mathrm{ud}(X)= \mathrm{ib}(X)\), where \(\mathrm{ib}(X)\) is the index of narrowness that was introduced and studied by \textit{I. I. Guran} in [Sov. Math., Dokl. 23, 173--175 (1981; Zbl 0478.22002); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 256, 1305--1307 (1981)]. It follows that, for every topological group \(G\), \(\mathrm{w}(G) = \mathrm{ud}(G) \cdot \chi(G)\), where \(\mathrm{w}(G)\) is the weight and \(\chi(G)\) is the character of \(G\). Given a cardinal number \(\kappa\), the authors say that a separated uniform space \((X, \mathcal{U})\) has the \(\kappa\)-uniformly discrete property, if every subset \(A\) of \(X\) with \(|A| = \kappa\) that is closed and discrete in the topology generated by \(\mathcal{U}\) contains a uniformly discrete subset \(D\) with \(|D| = \kappa\). They prove that, for every cardinal number \(\kappa\), the following statements are equivalent: (i) \(\kappa\) is regular; (ii) every separated uniform space \(X\) of uniform weight \(\mathrm{uw}(X) < \kappa\) has the \(\kappa\)-uniformly discrete property; and (iii) every complete Abelian topological group \(G\) of character \(\chi(G) < \kappa\) and \(\mathrm{ud}(G) = \kappa\) has the \(\kappa\)-uniformly discrete property. Another main result guarantees that every uniformly locally compact separated uniform space has the \(\kappa\)-uniformly discrete property for every cardinal \(\kappa\). A biuniform space \((X, \mathcal{L}, \mathcal{R})\) consists of a set \(X\) and two uniformities \(\mathcal{L}\) and \(\mathcal{R}\) on \(X\) that generate the same topology on \(X\). Generalizing earlier results of the third author concerning topological groups [Math. Notes 49, No. 6, 614--616 (1991; Zbl 0737.22001); translation from Mat. Zametki 49, No. 6, 87--91 (1991)] it is shown that, if \((X, \mathcal{L}, \mathcal{R})\) is a biuniform space such that \((X,\mathcal{L})\) and \((X, \mathcal{R})\) are complete and metrizable, then the following statements are equivalent: (i) \((X,\mathcal{L})\) and \((X, \mathcal{R})\) have the same families of uniformly discrete subsets; (ii) the spaces of all bounded uniformly continuous real valued functions on \((X,\mathcal{L})\) and \((X, \mathcal{R})\) coincide; and (iii) \(\mathcal{L} = \mathcal{R}\). Finally the authors apply their methods to improve on a theorem of \textit{K. P. Hart} and \textit{J. van Mill} from [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 70, No. 1--2, 73--80 (1991; Zbl 0727.22002)].