$P$-bases and Topological Groups

Abstract: A topological space $X$ is defined to have a neighborhood $P$-base at any $x\in X$ from some poset $P$ if there exists a neighborhood base $(U_p[x]){p\in P}$ at $x$ such that $U_p[x]\subseteq U{p'}[x]$ for all $p\geq p'$ in $P$. We prove that a compact space is countable, hence metrizable, if it has countable scattered height and a $\mathcal{K}(M)$-base for some separable metric space $M$. This gives a positive answer to Problem 8.6.8 in \cite{Banakh2019}. Let $A(X)$ be the free Abelian topological group on $X$. It is shown that if $Y$ is a retract of $X$ such that the free Abelian topological group $A(Y)$ has a $P$-base and $A(X/Y)$ has a $Q$-base, then $A(X)$ has a $P\times Q$-base. Also if $Y$ is a closed subspace of $X$ and $A(X)$ has a $P$-base, then $A(X/Y)$ has a $P$-base. It is shown that any Fr\'{e}che-Urysohn topological group with a $\mathcal{K}(M)$-base for some separable metric space $M$ is first-countable, hence metrizable. And if $P$ is a poset with calibre~$(\omega_1, \omega)$ and $G$ is a topological group with a $P$-base, then any precompact subset in G is metrizable, hence $G$ is strictly angelic. Applications in function spaces $C_p(X)$ and $C_k(X)$ are discussed. We also give an example of a topological Boolean group of character $\leq \mathfrak{d}$ such that the precompact subsets are metrizable but $G$ doesn't have an $\omega^\omega$-base if $\omega_1<\mathfrak{d}$. This gives a consistent negative answer to Problem 6.5 in \cite{GKL15}.