On normality of the Wijsman topology (Q1954220)

For a metric space \((X,\rho)\), let \(CL(X)\) be the set of all closed subsets of \(X\). For each \(x\in X\), the function \(\rho (x , \cdot ) : 2^X \to \mathbb{R}\) is defined by \(\rho (x, A) = \inf \{ \rho (x,a) : a \in A\}\). The Wijsman topology \(W_\rho\) on \(CL(X)\) is the weak topology determined by the collection \(\{ \rho(x, \cdot) : x \in X\}\). In [Recent progress in function spaces. Rome: Aracne.\ Quad.\ Mat.\ 3, 55--91 (1998; Zbl 0961.54011)], \textit{G. Di Maio} and \textit{E. Meccariello} posed the following problem: Is \((CL(X), W_\rho)\) normal if and only if \((CL(X), W_\rho)\) is metrizable? In this paper, the authors give a partial answer by proving the following theorem: Let \((X,\rho) \) be a metric space satisfying one of the following two conditions: (a) \(X\) is a linear metric space; (b) every closed proper ball is totally bounded. If \((CL(X), W_\rho)\) is normal, then \(X\) is separable (and hence \((CL(X), W_\rho)\) is metrizable due to \textit{A. Lechicki} and \textit{S. Levi} [Boll.\ Unione Mat.\ Ital., VII. Ser., B 1, 439--451 (1987; Zbl 0655.54007)]). The authors also study various kinds of cardinal invariants of the Wijsman topology.