Existence of nice resolutions in \(C_p(X)\) and its bidual often implies metrizability of \(C_p(X)\) (Q2215650)

For an infinite Tychonoff space \( X \), the author considers the space \( C_p(X) \) of real-valued continuous functions on \( X \) endowed with the pointwise topology \(\tau_p \). A family \( \{A_\alpha:\alpha\in\mathbb N^{\mathbb N}\} \) of subsets of a set \( X \) is called a resolution for \( X \) if it covers \( X \) and verifies that \( A_\alpha\subseteq A_\beta \) for \( \alpha\leq\beta \). The author proves that ``the space \( C_p(X) \) admits a resolution of convex compact sets that swallows the local null sequences in \( C_p(X) \) if and only if \( X \) is countable and discrete.'' The author also proves that ``the space \( C_p(X) \) has a resolution of absolutely convex bounded sequentially complete sets that swallows the null sequences if and only if \( X \) is countable and discrete.'' \par In the next section the author considers the problem of existence of bounded resolutions for the weak* bidual of \( C_p(X) \). The first main result in this section is: ``For a realcompact space \( X \), the weak* bidual of \( C_p(X) \) has a \( \Sigma \)-covering of limited envelope if and only if \( X \) is countable.'' The second main result states that ``the weak* bidual of \( C_p (X) \) has a resolution consisting of bounded sets if and only if \( |X|=\aleph_0 \).'' The author completes the paper with the result: ``For a first countable space \( X \), the space \( C_p(X) \) has a resolution of bounded sets that swallows the Cauchy sequences if and only if \( X \) is countable.''