On completeness in quasi-metric spaces (Q1118196)

A quasi-metric on a set X is a non-negative real-valued function d defined on \(X\times X\) for which \(d(x,y)=0\) if and only if \(x=y\) and \(d(x,y)\leq d(x,y)+d(y,z)\) for any x, y, and z in X. Each metric on X is clearly a quasi-metric, and each quasi-metric on X induces a quasi- uniformity and quasi-uniform topology in the usual manner. The author provides a thorough discussion of the motivation for and limitations of the notions of Cauchy sequence and completion for quasi- metric spaces. After presenting suitable definitions of Cauchy sequence and completeness, he is able to obtain a satisfactory theory for a standard completion of quasi-metric spaces, but only in the specialized category of balanced quasi-metric spaces. The appropriate expected theorems, including those which guarantee unique extension of quasi- uniformly continuous mappings to the completions, reinforce the naturality of the demonstrated completion process.