An asymmetric Arzelà-Ascoli theorem (Q2371784)

The authors primarily investigate whether the classical theorem of Arzela-Ascoli can be generalised to asymmetric metric or quasi-metric spaces. It can be recalled that in asymmetric metric spaces the symmetry axiom is dropped. The authors construct two types of open balls called forward and backward open balls with the help of \(d(x,y)\) and then \(d(y,x)\) which subsequently generate two topologies namely forward and backward topologies. Consequently two types of boundedness (forward and backward) and forward and backward convergence are introduced. Similarly forward and backward Cauchyness of sequences are introduced. The authors first examine some basic relations between forward and backward convergence and corresponding limits ably supported by a number of examples. In the next section the authors define the compactness in forward and then backward topologies called forward and backward compactness and also forward and backward completeness. They prove that an asymmetric metric space is forward compact iff it is forward complete and forward totally bounded. Finally the authors introduce ideas of forward and backward equicontinuity and also the notion of uniform metric and the corresponding uniform topology. In the final result they prove that if \((X,d_X)\) and \((Y,d_Y)\) are asymmetric metric spaces where \(X\) is forward compact, closed bounded sets are forward compact in \(Y\) and forward convergence implies backward convergence in \(Y\), then a subset \(F\) of \(C(X,Y)\) (the set of all forward to forward continuous maps), endowed with the uniform metric associated with the metric \(d_Y\), is relatively compact if \(F\) is forward equicontinuous and forward pointwise bounded under \(d_Y\). They also show that the strictly asymmetric condition on forward and backward convergence is essential. Also unlike metric spaces the condition is sufficient but not necessary.