The \(k\)-spaces property of the free abelian topological groups over non-metrizable Lašnev spaces (Q517115)

Let \(A(X)\) be the free abelian topological group over a Tychonoff space \(X\) and for each natural number \(n\), let \(A_n(X)\) denote the subspace of \(A(X)\) consisting of all words of reduced length at most \(n\). Let \(X\) be a metrizable space. In [Topology Appl. 33, No. 1, 63--76 (1989; Zbl 0689.54009)], \textit{A. V. Arkhangel'skij} et al. proved that \(A(X)\) is a \(k\)-space if and only if \(X\) is locally compact and the set \(d(X)\) of all non-isolated points of \(X\) is separable. In [Topology Appl. 49, No. 1, 75--94 (1993; Zbl 0817.54020); Glas. Mat., III. Ser. 31, No. 1, 83--91 (1996; Zbl 0852.22004)], \textit{K. Yamada} proved the following: (1) The following are equivalent: (i) each \(A_n(X)\) is a \(k\)-space; (ii) \(A_4(X)\) is a \(k\)-space; (iii) either \(d(X)\) is compact or \(X\) is locally compact and \(d(X)\) is separable. (2) \(A_3(X)\) is a \(k\)-space if and only if \(X\) is locally compact or \(d(X)\) is compact. From the above results, we can find metrizable spaces \(X\) and \(Y\) such that \(A_4(X)\) is a \(k\)-space but \(A(X)\) is not a \(k\)-space, and \(A_3(Y)\) is a \(k\)-space but \(A_4(X)\) is not a \(k\)-space. In this paper, the authors consider the relations of subspaces \(A_3(X)\), \(A_4(X)\), \(A_n(X)\) and \(A(X)\) with the \(k\)-space property for an arbitrary non-metrizable Lašnev space \(X\) and obtain some unexpected results as follows. (1) Let \(X\) be a non-metrizable Lašnev space. Then the following are equivalent: (i) \(A(X)\) is a sequential space; (ii) \(A(X)\) is a \(k\)-space; (iii) each \(A_n(X)\) is a \(k\)-space; (iv) \(A_4(X)\) is a \(k\)-space; (v) \(X\) is a topological sum of a space with a countable \(k\)-network consisting of compact subsets and a discrete space. (2) Assume \(\mathfrak b=\omega_1\). For a non-metrizable Lašnev space \(X\), \(A_3(X)\) is sequential if and only if \(A(X)\) is sequential. (3) Assume \(\mathfrak b>\omega_1\). There exists a non-metrizable Lašnev space \(X\) such that \(A_3(X)\) is sequential, but \(A(X)\) is not sequential.