Let $\mathcal S '(\mathbb R^d)$ be the space of Schwartz tempered distributions equipped with the weak-\* topology. I need to know if this space is second countable, i.e. if this topology has a countable basis. To put this in context, I need this because I am considering random variables with values in $\mathcal S'$ and I need to know if the Borel sigma field is the same as the cylinder sigma field in this particular case and second countability would be a sufficient condition. I think the answer is yes, but I cannot find a reference. 



Is the space of tempered distribution second countable?
Since $\mathscr{S}'$ is the dual of an infinite-dimensional Fréchet space, the weak-\* topology in $\mathscr{S}'$ is not even first countable. What people usually do is to define probability measures in $\mathscr{S}'$ which are supported in a subspace $\mathscr{W}$ which is endowed with a stronger topology which makes $\mathscr{W}$ a Polish space, that is, a separable complete metric space (in particular, second countable). This is the natural context for cylinder set measures, as discussed in Bourbaki's "Eléments de Mathématiques, Intégration" (Hermann, 1969), Chapter 9 (there, such measures are called "promeasures", for they can be understood as "projective systems of probability measures"). It is important to notice that cylinder set measures are also supported in an extremely "small" subset $\mathscr{V}\subset\mathscr{W}$, in the sense that $\mathscr{V}$ is locally compact (therefore, essentially "finite-dimensional") with respect to the induced topology from $\mathscr{W}$. 


An important special case is when $\mathscr{W}$ is the dual of a nuclear space, which is discussed in Gel'fand-Vilenkin's "Generalized Functions", Volume 4. You can also find material on this in the book of J. Glimm and A. Jaffe, "Quantum Physics - A Functional Integral Point of View" (2nd. ed., Springer-Verlag, 1988).


