The compact-open topology: A new perspective (Q1005161)

Given a Tikhonov space \(X\) the set \(KC(X)\) consists of all real valued functions that are continuous on compact subsets. It is endowed with the compact-open topology. In the paper properties of the resulting topological space \(KC_{k}(X)\), of its uniformity of uniform convergence on compact sets, or its locally convex structure are investigated. It is shown that for any space \(X\) the uniformity is complete. Topological properties of \(KC_{k}(X)\) are investigated and are compared to the analogous properties of its dense subspace \(C_{k}(X),\) consisting of all continuous functions. Among other results, characterizations are obtained for (sub)metrizability, for complete metrizability or for other types of completeness, such as Čech completeness and pseudo completeness, for separability and second countability. The main motivation for considering the larger space \(KC_{k}(X)\) lies in the attempt of having a simpler proof for the characterization of some completeness properties for the subspace \(C_{k}(X),\) obtained by \textit{R. A. McCoy} and \textit{I. Ntantu} in [Topology Appl. 22, 191--206 (1986; Zbl 0621.54011)].