The metrizability and completeness of the \(\sigma \)-compact-open topology on \(C^*(X)\) (Q409488)

Let \(X\) be a Tychonoff space. On the set \(C ( X )\) of all real-valued continuous functions on \(X\) and on the set \(C^* ( X )\) of all bounded real-valued continuous functions on \(X\) quite a few natural topologies are defined. Among them are the classical compact-open topology \(K\) and the topology of uniform convergence \(u\). Another natural locally convex topology \(C^* ( X )\) between \(k\) and \( u\) is the \(\sigma\)-compact-open topology \(\sigma\). The space \(C^* ( X )\) with the topology \(\sigma\) is denoted by \(C^*_\sigma (X)\). This topology, which can also be considered as the topology uniform convergence on \(\sigma\)-compact subsets of \(X\), was introduced and studied by \textit{D. Gulick} in the paper [Math. Scand. 30, 159-176 (1972; Zbl 0253.46045)], where the metrizability and uniform completeness of \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) were studied briefly. In this paper the authors continue the study of the space \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) obtaining further results in the context of metrizability and completeness. More precisely, they prove a number of properties of \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) equivalent to its metrizability (Theorems 2.1 and 2.4). Also various kinds of completeness of \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) are studied such as, \(\bullet\) Uniform completeness of \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) (Theorem 3.2). \(\bullet\) Čech-completeness, local Čech-completeness, Sieve-completeness and partition-completeness of \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) ( Theoren 3.5) \(\bullet\) Almost Čech-completeness and pseudo-completeness of \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) ( Theorem 3.6). Since \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) is a locally convex space, the authors examine the case when this space is barreled or bornological. Also they study the conditions under which the space \(C^*_\sigma (X)\) can be a nuclear or a Schwartz space ( Theorem 4.1). This is an interesting paper which continues and improves the previous work of the first author.