Step functions from the half-open unit interval into a topological space

The set of continuous-from-the-right step functions from the half-open unit interval0, 1into a topological space X is denoted by X¹. Elsewhere a topology has been defined which makes X¹ a contractible, locally contractible space with the subspace of constant functions being homeomorphic to X. When X has a bounded metric ?, the topology of X¹ may be described by the metric $\text{d>(f,g)=}\text{∫}\text{0}\text{1}\text{ρ(f(t),g(t))dt}$.It is shown here that if X is separable, then X¹ is separable and if X satisfies the first (or second) axiom of countability, then X¹ satisfies it too. In contrast, it is shown that properties such as normality do not extend from X to X¹. This follows from the main result: X¹ is homeomorphic to its square, and thus contains a copy of X×X (which is closed when X is Hausdorff). The final theorem states that if X has at least two points then X¹ is not complete metrizable.