Partition relations for uncountable ordinals

Partition relations of the form α→(α,m)², where α is an ordinal andm is a positive integer, are considered. Let κ be a cardinal. The following are proved: If κ is singular and 2^K=K ⁺ then (K⁺)²?((K⁺)²,3)². If κ is a strong limit cardinal, then², iff ((cfκ)²→((cfκ)²,m)². If κ is regular and K²→(K²,3)², then the κ-Souslin hypothesis holds. If K^ω<α+ and cfα=cfκ>ω, then α?(α,3)².     

Inner models with large cardinal features usually obtained by forcing

We construct a variety of inner models exhibiting features usually obtained by forcing over universes with large cardinals. For example, if there is a supercompact cardinal, then there is an inner model with a Laver indestructible supercompact cardinal. If there is a supercompact cardinal, then there is an inner model with a supercompact cardinal κ for which 2 ^κ ?=?κ ⁺, another for which 2 ^κ ?=?κ ⁺⁺ and another in which the least strongly compact cardinal is supercompact. If there is a strongly compact cardinal, then there is an inner model with a strongly compact cardinal, for which the measurable cardinals are bounded below it and another inner model W with a strongly compact cardinal κ, such that ${H^{V}_{\kappa^+} \subseteq {\rm HOD}^W}$ . Similar facts hold for supercompact, measurable and strongly Ramsey cardinals. If a cardinal is supercompact up to a weakly iterable cardinal, then there is an inner model of the Proper Forcing Axiom and another inner model with a supercompact cardinal in which GCH?+?V?=?HOD holds. Under the same hypothesis, there is an inner model with level by level equivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness, and indeed, another in which there is level by level inequivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness. If a cardinal is strongly compact up to a weakly iterable cardinal, then there is an inner model in which the least measurable cardinal is strongly compact. If there is a weakly iterable limit δ of <δ-supercompact cardinals, then there is an inner model with a proper class of Laver-indestructible supercompact cardinals. We describe three general proof methods, which can be used to prove many similar results.     

Indestructibility, instances of strong compactness, and level by level inequivalence

Suppose λ > κ is measurable. We show that if κ is either indestructibly supercompact or indestructibly strong, then A = {δ < κ | δ is measurable, yet δ is neither δ ⁺ strongly compact nor a limit of measurable cardinals} must be unbounded in κ. The large cardinal hypothesis on λ is necessary, as we further demonstrate by constructing via forcing two models in which ${A = \emptyset}$ . The first of these contains a supercompact cardinal κ and is such that no cardinal δ > κ is measurable, κ’s supercompactness is indestructible under κ-directed closed, (κ ⁺, ∞)-distributive forcing, and every measurable cardinal δ < κ is δ ⁺ strongly compact. The second of these contains a strong cardinal κ and is such that no cardinal δ > κ is measurable, κ’s strongness is indestructible under < κ-strategically closed, (κ ⁺, ∞)-distributive forcing, and level by level inequivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness holds. The model from the first of our forcing constructions is used to show that it is consistent, relative to a supercompact cardinal, for the least cardinal κ which is both strong and has its strongness indestructible under κ-directed closed, (κ ⁺, ∞)-distributive forcing to be the same as the least supercompact cardinal, which has its supercompactness indestructible under κ-directed closed, (κ ⁺, ∞)-distributive forcing. It further follows as a corollary of the first of our forcing constructions that it is possible to build a model containing a supercompact cardinal κ in which no cardinal δ > κ is measurable, κ is indestructibly supercompact, and every measurable cardinal δ < κ which is not a limit of measurable cardinals is δ ⁺ strongly compact.     

On uncountable cardinal sequences for superatomic Boolean algebras

The countable sequences of cardinals which arise as cardinal sequences of superatomic Boolean algebras were characterized by La Grange on the basis of ZFC set theory. However, no similar characterization is available for uncountable cardinal sequences. In this paper we prove the following two consistency results:

1. Ifθ = 〈κ _α :α <ω ₁〉 is a sequence of infinite cardinals, then there is a cardinal-preserving notion of forcing that changes cardinal exponentiation and forces the existence of a superatomic Boolean algebraB such that θ is the cardinal sequence ofB.
2. Ifκ is an uncountable cardinal such thatκ ^<κ =κ andθ = 〈κ _α :α <κ ⁺〉 is a cardinal sequence such thatκ _α ≥κ for everyα <κ ⁺ andκ _α =κ for everyα <κ ⁺ such that cf(α)<κ, then there is a cardinal-preserving notion of forcing that changes cardinal exponentiation and forces the existence of a superatomic Boolean algebraB such that θ is the cardinal sequence ofB.

     

Linear orderings and powers of characterizable cardinals

We say that a countable model M completely characterizes an infinite cardinal κ, if the Scott sentence of M has a model in cardinality κ, but no models in cardinality κ⁺. If a structure M completely characterizes κ, κ is called characterizable. In this paper, we concern ourselves with cardinals that are characterizable by linearly ordered structures (cf. Definition 2.1).Under the assumption of GCH, Malitz completely resolved the problem by showing that κ is characterizable if and only if κ=ℵ_α, for some α<ω₁ (cf. Malitz (1968) [7] and Baumgartner (1974) [1]). Our results concern the case where GCH fails.From Hjorth (2002) [3], we can deduce that if κ is characterizable, then κ⁺ is characterizable by a densely ordered structure (see Theorem 2.4 and Corollary 2.5).We show that if κ is homogeneously characterizable (cf. Definition 2.2), then κ is characterizable by a densely ordered structure, while the converse fails (Theorem 2.3).The main theorems are (1) If κ>2^λ is a characterizable cardinal, λ is characterizable by a densely ordered structure and λ is the least cardinal such that κ^λ>κ, then κ^λ is also characterizable (Theorem 5.4) and (2) if ℵ_α and κ^ℵ_α are characterizable cardinals, then the same is true for κ^ℵ_α+β, for all countable β (Theorem 5.5).Combining these two theorems we get that if κ>2^ℵ_α is a characterizable cardinal, ℵ_α is characterizable by a densely ordered structure and ℵ_α is the least cardinal such that κ^ℵ_α>κ, then for all β<α+ω₁, κ^ℵ_β is characterizable (Theorem 5.7). Also if κ is a characterizable cardinal, then κ^ℵ_α is characterizable, for all countable α (Corollary 5.6). This answers a question of the author in Souldatos (submitted for publication) [8].     

Complete separation in the random and Cohen models

It is shown that in the model obtained by adding κ many random reals, where κ is a supercompact cardinal, every C^?-embedded subset of a first countable space (even with character smaller than κ) is C-embedded. It is also proved that if two ground model sets are completely separated after adding a random real then they were completely separated originally but CH implies that the Cohen poset does not have this property.     

Cichoń’s diagram for uncountable cardinals

We develop a version of Cichoń’s diagram for cardinal invariants on the generalized Cantor space 2 ^κ or the generalized Baire space κ ^κ , where κ is an uncountable regular cardinal. For strongly inaccessible κ, many of the ZFC-results about the order relationship of the cardinal invariants which hold for ω generalize; for example, we obtain a natural generalization of the Bartoszyński–Raisonnier–Stern Theorem. We also prove a number of independence results, both with < κ-support iterations and κ-support iterations and products, showing that we consistently have strict inequality between some of the cardinal invariants.     

A definable failure of the singular cardinal hypothesis

We show first that it is consistent that κ is a measurable cardinal where the GCH fails, while there is a lightface definable wellorder of H(κ ⁺). Then with further forcing we show that it is consistent that GCH fails at ? _ω , ? _ω strong limit, while there is a lightface definable wellorder of H(? _ω+1) (“definable failure” of the singular cardinal hypothesis at ? _ω ). The large cardinal hypothesis used is the existence of a κ ⁺⁺-strong cardinal, where κ is κ ⁺⁺-strong if there is an embedding j: V → M with critical point κ such that H(κ ⁺⁺) ? M. By work of M. Gitik and W. J. Mitchell [12], [20], our large cardinal assumption is almost optimal. The techniques of proof include the “tuning-fork” method of [10] and [3], a generalisation to large cardinals of the stationary-coding of [4] and a new “definable-collapse” coding based on mutual stationarity. The fine structure of the canonical inner model L[E] for a κ ⁺⁺-strong cardinal is used throughout.     

Gradients of inner functions in strictly pseudoconvex domains

We investigate the unbalanced ordinary partition relations of the form λ → (λ, α)² for various values of the cardinal λ and the ordinal α. For example, we show that for every infinite cardinal κ, the existence of a κ+-Suslin tree implies κ⁺ ? (κ⁺, log _κ (κ⁺) + 2)². The consistency of the positive partition relation b → (b, α)2 for all α < ω₁ for the bounding number b is also established from large cardinals.     

Note On the core of a collection of coalitions

. For a collection Ω of subsets of a finite set N we define its core to be equal to the polyhedral cone {x∈IR ^N : ∑ _i∈N x _i =0 and ∑ _i∈S x _i ≥0 for all S∈Ω}. This note describes several applications of this concept in the field of cooperative game theory. Especially collections Ω are considered with core equal to {0}. This property of a one-point core is proved to be equivalent to the non-degeneracy and balancedness of Ω. Further, the notion of exact cover is discussed and used in a second characterization of collections Ω with core equal to {0}.     

Homogeneous iteration and measure one covering relative to HOD

Relative to a hyperstrong cardinal, it is consistent that measure one covering fails relative to HOD. In fact it is consistent that there is a superstrong cardinal and for every regular cardinal κ, κ ⁺ is greater than κ ⁺ of HOD. The proof uses a very general lemma showing that homogeneity is preserved through certain reverse Easton iterations.     

Steepest descent curves of convex functions on surfaces of constant curvature

Let S be a complete surface of constant curvature K = ±1, i.e., S ² or л ², and Ω ? S a bounded convex subset. If S = S ², assume also diameter(Ω) < π/2. It is proved that the length of any steepest descent curve of a quasi-convex function in Ω is less than or equal to the perimeter of Ω. This upper bound is actually proved for the class of G-curves, a family of curves that naturally includes all steepest descent curves. In case S = S ², the existence of G-curves, whose length is equal to the perimeter of their convex hull, is also proved, showing that the above estimate is indeed optimal. The results generalize theorems by Manselli and Pucci on steepest descent curves in the Euclidean plane.     

On some questions concerning strong compactness

A question of Woodin asks if κ is strongly compact and GCH holds below κ, then must GCH hold everywhere? One variant of this question asks if κ is strongly compact and GCH fails at every regular cardinal δ?< κ, then must GCH fail at some regular cardinal δ?≥ κ? Another variant asks if it is possible for GCH to fail at every limit cardinal less than or equal to a strongly compact cardinal κ. We get a negative answer to the first of these questions and positive answers to the second of these questions for a supercompact cardinal κ in the context of the absence of the full Axiom of Choice.     

Productivity numbers in topological spaces

The κ-productivity of classes C of topological spaces closed under quotients and disjoint sums is characterized by means of Cantor spaces. The smallest infinite cardinals κ such that such classes are not κ-productive are submeasurable cardinals. It follows that if a class of topological spaces is closed under quotients, disjoint sums and countable products, it is closed under products of non-sequentially many spaces (thus under all products, if sequential cardinals do not exist).     

Global singularization and the failure of SCH

We say that κ is μ-hypermeasurable (or μ-strong) for a cardinal μ≥κ⁺ if there is an embedding j:V→M with critical point κ such that H(μ)^V is included in M and j(κ)>μ. Such a j is called a witnessing embedding.Building on the results in [7], we will show that if V satisfies GCH and F is an Easton function from the regular cardinals into cardinals satisfying some mild restrictions, then there exists a cardinal-preserving forcing extension V^∗ where F is realised on all V-regular cardinals and moreover, all F(κ)-hypermeasurable cardinals κ, where F(κ)>κ⁺, with a witnessing embedding j such that either j(F)(κ)=κ⁺ or j(F)(κ)≥F(κ), are turned into singular strong limit cardinals with cofinality ω. This provides some partial information about the possible structure of a continuum function with respect to singular cardinals with countable cofinality.As a corollary, this shows that the continuum function on a singular strong limit cardinal κ of cofinality ω is virtually independent of the behaviour of the continuum function below κ, at least for continuum functions which are simple in that 2^α∈{α⁺,α⁺⁺} for every cardinal α below κ (in this case every κ⁺⁺-hypermeasurable cardinal in the ground model is witnessed by a j with either j(F)(κ)≥F(κ) or j(F)(κ)=κ⁺).     

The tree property and the failure of SCH at uncountable cofinality

Given a regular cardinal λ and λ many supercompact cardinals, we describe a type of forcing such that in the generic extension there is a cardinal κ with cofinality λ, the Singular Cardinal Hypothesis at κ fails, and the tree property holds at κ ⁺.     

The covering number and the transitive covering number may be totally different

We construct a translation invariant σ-ideal T(κ) (where κ is an infinite cardinal number) such that cov_t (T(κ)) = 2^κ while cov (T(κ)) = cof (T(κ)) = ω₁. The constructions can be carried out in R as well.     

The number of weakly compact convex subsets of the Hilbert space

We prove that for κ an uncountable cardinal, there exist κ² many nonhomeomorphic weakly compact convex subsets of weight κ in the Hilbert space ?₂(κ).     

Tall cardinals

A cardinal κ is tall if for every ordinal θ there is an embedding j: V → M with critical point κ such that j (κ) > θ and M^κ ? M. Every strong cardinal is tall and every strongly compact cardinal is tall, but measurable cardinals are not necessarily tall. It is relatively consistent, however, that the least measurable cardinal is tall. Nevertheless, the existence of a tall cardinal is equiconsistent with the existence of a strong cardinal. Any tall cardinal κ can be made indestructible by a variety of forcing notions, including forcing that pumps up the value of 2^κ as high as desired. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Complementation in the Lattice of Locally Convex Topologies

We find all locally convex homogeneous topologies on (?, ≤?) and determine which of these have locally convex complements. Among the locally convex topologies on an n-point totally ordered set, each has a locally convex complement and, for n?≥?3, at least n???2 of them have 2 ^n???1 locally convex complements. For any infinite cardinal κ, totally ordered spaces of cardinality κ which have exactly 1, exactly κ, and exactly 2 ^κ locally convex complements are exhibited.