On local quasi-convexity as a three-space property in topological abelian groups (Q2661192)

An abelian topological group \(X\) is called \textit{locally quasi-convex} if it has a neighbourhood basis \(\mathcal{N}\) at the neutral element \(0\) such that for every \(U\in\mathcal{N}\) and every \(x\in X\setminus U\) there exists a continuous homomorphism \(\chi:X\to\mathbb T\) such that \(\chi(U)\subseteq \mathbb T_+:=\{z\in\mathbb T: \Re(z)\ge 0\}\) and \(\chi(x)\notin\mathbb T_+\). This definition generalizes the setting of a locally convex vector space for abelian topological groups. In this article the following question is studied: Let \(H\) be a closed subgroup of an abelian Hausdorff group \(X\) such that both the subgroup topology on \(H\) and the quotient topology on \(X/H\) are locally quasi-convex. Under which conditions is \(X\) a locally quasi-convex group? Examples of non-locally convex topological vector spaces are known which admit a linear subspace such that both the subspace topology and the quotient topology are locally convex. So additional assumptions have to be imposed in order to obtain a positive answer to the above question. It was shown by \textit{M. M. Bruguera} [Topology Appl. 77, No. 2, 87--94 (1997; Zbl 0874.22002), Theorem 10] that if \(H\) is a compact subgroup of a MAP group \(X\) and \(X/H\) is locally quasi-convex, then \(X\) is locally quasi-convex. Castillo claimed (Theorem 2.1 in: [\textit{J. M. F. Castillo}, Arch. Math. 74, No. 4, 253--262 (2000; Zbl 0955.22006)]) that if \(H\) is a dually embedded subgroup of \(X\) (this means that every continuous character of \(H\) can be extended to a continuous character of \(X\)), then the above question admits a positive answer. However, the proof is not correct and it is still an open question whether the assertion is true. In order to treat the above question, the authors of the paper under review call a subgroup \(H\) of a topological abelian group \(X\) \textit{equicontinuously dually embedded}, if every equicontinuous subset of the character group \(H^\wedge\) of \(H\) is the image of an equicontinuous subset of \(X^\wedge\) under the restriction mapping \(X^\wedge\to H^\wedge\). Of course, every equicontinuously dually embedded subgroup is dually embedded. If the reverse implication is correct is still open (Question 3.11 (a)). The main result of this article is: If \(H\) is an equicontinuously dually embedded subgroup of \(X\) and if both \(H\) and \(X/H\) are locally quasi-convex then so is \(X\). It is mentioned, that in general, the condition that \(H\) is equicontinuously dually embedded is not necessary for the local quasi-convexity of \(X\). In case that \(X\) is metrizable and \(H\) is discrete a positive answer to the above question is given. Further results connected with the Mackey topology are given and applications to the splitting of short exact sequences of topological abelian groups are presented.