Arzelà-Ascoli theorem in uniform spaces

Abstract

In the paper, we generalize the Arzelà-Ascoli theorem in the setting of uniform spaces. At first, we recall well-known facts and theorems coming from monographs of Kelley and Willard. The main part of the paper introduces the notion of extension property which, similarly as equicontinuity, equates different topologies on $C(X,Y)$. This property enables us to prove the Arzelà-Ascoli theorem for uniform convergence. The paper culminates with applications, which are motivated by Schwartz's distribution theory. Using the Banach-Alaoglu-Bourbaki theorem, we establish relative compactness of subfamily of $C(\mathbb{R},{\mathcal{D}}^{\prime }({\mathbb{R}}^n))$.