Borelness of Moduli Spaces of Metrics Implies Separability

Abstract

Let X be a metrizable space, and let Met(X) denote the space of metrics compatible with the topology of X, regarded as a subspace of the space of continuous pseudometrics with the supremum-metric topology. We first prove that if Z is a discrete space of cardinality aleph-one, then Met(Z) is not Borel. As a consequence, if Met(X) is Borel, then X is separable. Combined with a theorem of Koshino, our result yields that the space of bounded compatible metrics on a metrizable space X is completely metrizable if and only if X is sigma-compact. We also establish non-Archimedean analogues for spaces of ultrametrics.