Remarks on selectively (a)-spaces (Q1946999)

In the paper under review, the author investigates a \textit{selective version} of a \textit{star covering property}. The star covering property is \textit{property \((a)\)}. A topological space \(X\) satisfies property \((a)\), or is said to be an \((a)\)-space, if for every open cover \(\mathcal{U}\) of \(X\) and for every dense set \(D \subseteq X\) there is a set \(F \subseteq D\) which is closed and discrete in \(X\) and such that \(St(F, \mathcal{U}) = X\), where \(St(F, \mathcal U) = \bigcup \{U \in \mathcal{U}: U \cap F \neq \emptyset \}\), cf. \textit{M. V. Matveev} [Quest. Answers Gen. Topology 15, No. 2, 103--111 (1997; Zbl 1002.54016)]. Its selective version goes as follows: a topological space \(X\) is said to be a \textit{selectively \((a)\)-space} if for every sequence \(\langle \mathcal{U}_n : n < \omega\rangle\) of open covers of \(X\) and for every dense set \(D \subseteq X\) there is a sequence \(\langle A_n: n < \omega\rangle\) of subsets of \(D\) which are closed and discrete in \(X\) and such that \(\{St(A_n, \mathcal{U}_n): n < \omega\}\) covers \(X\), see \textit{A. Caserta; G. Di Maio} and \textit{Lj. D. R. Kočinac} [Topology Appl. 158, No. 12, 1360--1368 (2011; Zbl 1229.54029)]. It is clear that \((a)\) implies selectively \((a)\). The main results of the paper are the following: (1) There is a Tychonoff countably compact space \(X\) such that the Alexandroff duplicate of \(X\) is selectively \((a)\), but \(X\) is not. (2) There is a Tychonoff selectively \((a)\)-space having a regular-closed subspace which is not selectively \((a)\). (3) Under \(2^{\aleph_0} = 2^{\aleph_1}\) there is a normal space which is not selectively \((a)\). (4) If a normal selectively \((a)\) space has no uncountable closed discrete subsets, then its Alexandroff duplicate is selectively \((a)\). Regarding (3), the author declares he is not aware of the existence of a space satisfying the referred properties within ZFC.