On complemented copies of the space $c_0$ in spaces $C_p(X,E)$

Abstract: We study the question for which Tychonoff spaces $X$ and locally convex spaces $E$ the space $C_p(X,E)$ of continuous $E$-valued functions on $X$ contains a complemented copy of the space $(c_0)_p={x\in\mathbb{R}^\omega\colon x(n)\to0}$, both endowed with the pointwise topology. We provide a positive answer for a vast class of spaces, extending classical theorems of Cembranos, Freniche, and Doma\'nski and Drewnowski, proved for the case of Banach and Fr\'echet spaces $C_k(X,E)$. Also, for given infinite Tychonoff spaces $X$ and $Y$, we show that $C_p(X,C_p(Y))$ contains a complemented copy of $(c_0)_p$ if and only if any of the spaces $C_p(X)$ and $C_p(Y)$ contains such a subspace.