Separable quotients for less-than-barrelled function spaces (Q1684815)

Let \(X\) be a completely regular Hausdorff topological space. Denote by \(C_c(X)\) and \(C_p(X)\) the linear space \(C(X)\) of all continuous real-valued functions endowed with the pointwise and compact-open topologies, respectively. This article addresses the problem of finding (always Hausdorff infinite dimensional) separable quotients of \(C_c(X)\) and \(C_p(X)\). The authors and \textit{A. R. Todd} proved in [Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 90, No. 2, 295--303 (2014; Zbl 1306.46002)] that every barrelled \(C_c(X)\) admits a separable quotient. In the paper under review, it is shown that, if \(C_c(X)\) (resp., \(C_p(X)\)) is dual locally complete (a much weaker condition than being barrelled), then this space has a separable quotient. Examples of spaces of this type which are not dual locally complete but have a separable quotient are presented.