Coding into HOD via normal measures with some applications

We develop a new method for coding sets while preserving GCH in the presence of large cardinals, particularly supercompact cardinals. We will use the number of normal measures carried by a measurable cardinal as an oracle, and therefore, in order to code a subset A of κ, we require that our model contain κ many measurable cardinals above κ. Additionally we will describe some of the applications of this result. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim     

Indestructible strong compactness and level by level inequivalence

If are such that δ is indestructibly supercompact and γ is measurable, then it must be the case that level by level inequivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness fails. We prove a theorem which points to this result being best possible. Specifically, we show that relative to the existence of cardinals such that κ₁ is λ‐supercompact and λ is inaccessible, there is a model for level by level inequivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness containing a supercompact cardinal in which κ’s strong compactness, but not supercompactness, is indestructible under κ‐directed closed forcing. In this model, κ is the least strongly compact cardinal, and no cardinal is supercompact up to an inaccessible cardinal.     

Indestructibility and level by level equivalence and inequivalence

If κ < λ are such that κ is indestructibly supercompact and λ is 2^λ supercompact, it is known from [4] that

• {δ < κ | δ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals and δ violates level by level equivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness}

must be unbounded in κ. On the other hand, using a variant of the argument used to establish this fact, it is possible to prove that if κ < λ are such that κ is indestructibly supercompact and λ is measurable, then

• {δ < κ | δ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals and δ satisfies level by level equivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness}

must be unbounded in κ. The two aforementioned phenomena, however, need not occur in a universe with an indestructibly supercompact cardinal and sufficiently few large cardinals. In particular, we show how to construct a model with an indestructibly supercompact cardinal κ in which if δ < κ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals, then δ must satisfy level by level equivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness. We also, however, show how to construct a model with an indestructibly supercompact cardinal κ in which if δ < κ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals, then δ must violate level by level equivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Indestructibility and measurable cardinals with few and many measures

If κ < λ are such that κ is indestructibly supercompact and λ is measurable, then we show that both A = {δ < κ | δ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals and δ carries the maximal number of normal measures} and B = {δ < κ | δ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals and δ carries fewer than the maximal number of normal measures} are unbounded in κ. The two aforementioned phenomena, however, need not occur in a universe with an indestructibly supercompact cardinal and sufficiently few large cardinals. In particular, we show how to construct a model with an indestructibly supercompact cardinal κ in which if δ < κ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals, then δ must carry fewer than the maximal number of normal measures. We also, however, show how to construct a model with an indestructibly supercompact cardinal κ in which if δ < κ is a measurable cardinal which is not a limit of measurable cardinals, then δ must carry the maximal number of normal measures. If we weaken the requirements on indestructibility, then this last result can be improved to obtain a model with an indestructibly supercompact cardinal κ in which every measurable cardinal δ < κ carries the maximal number of normal measures. A. W. Apter’s research was partially supported by PSC-CUNY grants and CUNY Collaborative Incentive grants. In addition, the author wishes to thank the referee, for helpful comments, corrections, and suggestions which have been incorporated into the current version of the paper.     

Weakly measurable cardinals

In this article, we introduce the notion of weakly measurable cardinal, a new large cardinal concept obtained by weakening the familiar concept of a measurable cardinal. Specifically, a cardinal κ is weakly measurable if for any collection $\mathcal {A}$ containing at most κ⁺ many subsets of κ, there exists a nonprincipal κ‐complete filter on κ measuring all sets in $\mathcal {A}$. Every measurable cardinal is weakly measurable, but a weakly measurable cardinal need not be measurable. Moreover, while the GCH cannot fail first at a measurable cardinal, I will show that it can fail first at a weakly measurable cardinal. More generally, if κ is measurable, then we can make its weak measurability indestructible by the forcing Add(κ, η) for any η while forcing the GCH to hold below κ. Nevertheless, I shall prove that weakly measurable cardinals and measurable cardinals are equiconsistent. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim     

Superatomic Boolean algebras constructed from strongly unbounded functions

Using Koszmider's strongly unbounded functions, we show the following consistency result: Suppose that κ, λ are infinite cardinals such that κ^{++ +} ≤ λ, κ^<κ = κ and 2^κ = κ⁺, and η is an ordinal with κ⁺ ≤ η < κ⁺⁺ and cf(η) = κ⁺. Then, in some cardinal‐preserving generic extension there is a superatomic Boolean algebra $\mathcal BUsing Koszmider's strongly unbounded functions, we show the following consistency result: Suppose that κ, λ are infinite cardinals such that κ^{++ +} ≤ λ, κ^<κ = κ and 2^κ = κ⁺, and η is an ordinal with κ⁺ ≤ η < κ⁺⁺ and cf(η) = κ⁺. Then, in some cardinal‐preserving generic extension there is a superatomic Boolean algebra $\mathcal B$ such that $\mathrm{ht}(\mathcal B) = \eta + 1$, $\mathrm{wd}_{\alpha }(\mathcal B) = \kappa$ for every α < η and $\mathrm{wd}_{\eta }(\mathcal B) = \lambda$(i.e., there is a locally compact scattered space with cardinal sequence 〈κ〉_η^??〈λ〉). Especially, $\langle {\omega }\rangle _{{\omega }_1}{}^{\smallfrown } \langle {\omega }_3\rangle$ and $\langle {\omega }_1\rangle _{{\omega }_2}{}^{\smallfrown } \langle {\omega }_4\rangle$ can be cardinal sequences of superatomic Boolean algebras.     

Identity crises and strong compactness III: Woodin cardinals

We show that it is consistent, relative to n ∈ ω supercompact cardinals, for the strongly compact and measurable Woodin cardinals to coincide precisely. In particular, it is consistent for the first n strongly compact cardinals to be the first n measurable Woodin cardinals, with no cardinal above the n^th strongly compact cardinal being measurable. In addition, we show that it is consistent, relative to a proper class of supercompact cardinals, for the strongly compact cardinals and the cardinals which are both strong cardinals and Woodin cardinals to coincide precisely. We also show how the techniques employed can be used to prove additional theorems about possible relationships between Woodin cardinals and strongly compact cardinals. The first author's research was partially supported by PSC-CUNY Grant 66489-00-35 and a CUNY Collaborative Incentive Grant.     

Some Remarks on Normal Measures and Measurable Cardinals

We prove two theorems which in a certain sense show that the number of normal measures a measurable cardinal κ can carry is independent of a given fixed behavior of the continuum function on any set having measure 1 with respect to every normal measure over κ . First, starting with a model V ⊨ “ZFC + GCH + o(κ) = δ*” for δ* ≤ κ⁺ any finite or infinite cardinal, we force and construct an inner model N ⊆ V [G] so that N ⊨ “ZF + (∀δ < κ) [DC_δ] + ¬AC_κ + κ carries exactly δ* normal measures + 2^δ = δ⁺⁺ on a set having measure 1 with respect to every normal measure over κ”. There is nothing special about 2^δ = δ here, and other stated values for the continuum function will be possible as well. Then, starting with a modelV ⊨ “ZFC + GCH + κis supercompact”, we force and construct models of AC in which, roughly speaking, regardless of the specified behavior of the continuum function below κ on any set having measure 1 with respect to every normal measure over κ, κ can in essence carry any number of normal measures δ* ≥ κ⁺⁺.     

More on the Least Strongly Compact Cardinal

We show that it is consistent, relative to a supercompact limit of supercompact cardinals, for the least strongly compact cardinal k to be both the least measurable cardinal and to be > 2^k supercompact.     

Supercompactness and measurable limits of strong cardinals II: Applications to level by level equivalence

We construct models for the level by level equivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness in which for κ the least supercompact cardinal and δ ≤ κ any cardinal which is either a strong cardinal or a measurable limit of strong cardinals, 2^δ > δ ⁺ and δ is < 2^δ supercompact. In these models, the structure of the class of supercompact cardinals can be arbitrary, and the size of the power set of κ can essentially be made as large as desired. This extends and generalizes [5, Theorem 2] and [4, Theorem 4]. We also sketch how our techniques can be used to establish a weak indestructibility result. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Measurable cardinals and good ‐wellorderings

We study the influence of the existence of large cardinals on the existence of wellorderings of power sets of infinite cardinals κ with the property that the collection of all initial segments of the wellordering is definable by a Σ₁‐formula with parameter κ. A short argument shows that the existence of a measurable cardinal δ implies that such wellorderings do not exist at δ‐inaccessible cardinals of cofinality not equal to δ and their successors. In contrast, our main result shows that these wellorderings exist at all other uncountable cardinals in the minimal model containing a measurable cardinal. In addition, we show that measurability is the smallest large cardinal property that imposes restrictions on the existence of such wellorderings at uncountable cardinals. Finally, we generalise the above result to the minimal model containing two measurable cardinals.     

Level by level equivalence and strong compactness

We force and construct models in which there are non‐supercompact strongly compact cardinals which aren't measurable limits of strongly compact cardinals and in which level by level equivalence between strong compactness and supercompactness holds non‐trivially except at strongly compact cardinals. In these models, every measurable cardinal κ which isn't either strongly compact or a witness to a certain phenomenon first discovered by Menas is such that for every regular cardinal λ > κ, κ is λ strongly compact iff κ is λ supercompact. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On successors of Jónsson cardinals

We show that, like singular cardinals, and weakly compact cardinals, Jensen's core model K for measures of order zero [4] calculates correctly the successors of Jónsson cardinals, assuming does not exist. Namely, if is a Jónsson cardinal then , provided that there is no non-trivial elementary embedding . There are a number of related results in ZFC concerning in V and inner models, for a Jónsson or singular cardinal. Received: 8 December 1998     

On the consistency strength of the proper forcing axiom

In recent work, the second author extended combinatorial principles due to Jech and Magidor that characterize certain large cardinal properties so that they can also hold true for small cardinals. For inaccessible cardinals, these modifications have no effect, and the resulting principles still give the same characterization of large cardinals. We prove that the proper forcing axiom PFA implies these principles hold for ω₂. Using this, we argue to show that any of the known methods for forcing models of PFA from a large cardinal assumption requires a strongly compact cardinal. If one forces PFA using a proper forcing, then we get the optimal result that a supercompact cardinal is necessary.     

Localizing the axioms

We examine what happens if we replace ZFC with a localistic/relativistic system, LZFC, whose central new axiom, denoted by Loc(ZFC), says that every set belongs to a transitive model of ZFC. LZFC consists of Loc(ZFC) plus some elementary axioms forming Basic Set Theory (BST). Some theoretical reasons for this shift of view are given. All ${\Pi_2}We examine what happens if we replace ZFC with a localistic/relativistic system, LZFC, whose central new axiom, denoted by Loc(ZFC), says that every set belongs to a transitive model of ZFC. LZFC consists of Loc(ZFC) plus some elementary axioms forming Basic Set Theory (BST). Some theoretical reasons for this shift of view are given. All P₂{\Pi_2} consequences of ZFC are provable in LZFC. LZFC strongly extends Kripke-Platek (KP) set theory minus Δ₀-Collection and minus ?{\in} -induction scheme. ZFC+ “there is an inaccessible cardinal” proves the consistency of LZFC. In LZFC we focus on models rather than cardinals, a transitive model being considered as the analogue of an inaccessible cardinal. Pushing this analogy further we define α-Mahlo models and P₁¹{\Pi_1^1} -indescribable models, the latter being the analogues of weakly compact cardinals. Also localization axioms of the form Loc(ZFC+f){Loc({\rm ZFC}+\phi)} are considered and their global consequences are examined. Finally we introduce the concept of standard compact cardinal (in ZFC) and some standard compactness results are proved.     

Universal partial indestructibility and strong compactness

For any ordinal δ, let λ_δ be the least inaccessible cardinal above δ. We force and construct a model in which the least supercompact cardinal κ is indestructible under κ‐directed closed forcing and in which every measurable cardinal δ < κ is < λ_δ strongly compact and has its < λ_δ strong compactness indestructible under δ‐directed closed forcing of rank less than λ_δ. In this model, κ is also the least strongly compact cardinal. We also establish versions of this result in which κ is the least strongly compact cardinal but is not supercompact. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-rank of Ext<Subscript>ℤ</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>, ℤ) in certain models of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ZFC</Emphasis>

We prove that if the existence of a supercompact cardinal is consistent with ZFC, then it is consistent with ZFC that the p-rank of Ext _ℤ(G, ℤ) is as large as possible for every prime p and for any torsion-free Abelian group G. Moreover, given an uncountable strong limit cardinal μ of countable cofinality and a partition of Π (the set of primes) into two disjoint subsets Π₀ and Π₁, we show that in some model which is very close to ZFC, there is an almost free Abelian group G of size 2^μ = μ⁺ such that the p-rank of Ext _ℤ(G, ℤ) equals 2^μ = μ⁺ for every p ∈ Π₀ and 0 otherwise, that is, for p ∈ Π₁. Number 874 in Shelah’s list of publications. Supported by the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research & Development project No. I-706-54.6/2001. Supported by a grant from the German Research Foundation DFG. __________ Translated from Algebra i Logika, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 369–397, May–June, 2007.     

Indestructibility and stationary reflection

If κ < λ are such that κ is a strong cardinal whose strongness is indestructible under κ ‐strategically closed forcing and λ is weakly compact, then we show that A = {δ < κ | δ is a non‐weakly compact Mahlo cardinal which reflects stationary sets} must be unbounded in κ. This phenomenon, however, need not occur in a universe with relatively few large cardinals. In particular, we show how to construct a model where no cardinal is supercompact up to a Mahlo cardinal in which the least supercompact cardinal κ is also the least strongly compact cardinal, κ 's strongness is indestructible under κ ‐strategically closed forcing, κ 's supercompactness is indestructible under κ ‐directed closed forcing not adding any new subsets of κ, and δ is Mahlo and reflects stationary sets iff δ is weakly compact. In this model, no strong cardinal δ < κ is indestructible under δ ‐strategically closed forcing. It therefore follows that it is relatively consistent for the least strong cardinal κ whose strongness is indestructible under κ ‐strategically closed forcing to be the same as the least supercompact cardinal, which also has its supercompactness indestructible under κ ‐directed closed forcing not adding any new subsets of κ (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

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.     

Hamilton cycles,avoiding prescribed arcs,in close-to-regular tournaments

The local irregularity of a digraph D is defined as i_l(D) = max {|d⁺ (x) − d⁻ (x)| : x ϵ V(D)}. Let T be a tournament, let Γ = {V₁, V₂, …, V_c} be a partition of V(T) such that |V₁| ≥ |V₂| ≥ … ≥ |V_c|, and let D be the multipartite tournament obtained by deleting all the arcs with both end points in the same set in Γ. We prove that, if |V(T)| ≥ max{2i_l(T) + 2|V₁| + 2|V₂| − 2, i_l(T) + 3|V₁| − 1}, then D is Hamiltonian. Furthermore, if T is regular (i.e., i_l(T) = 0), then we state slightly better lower bounds for |V(T)| such that we still can guarantee that D is Hamiltonian. Finally, we show that our results are best possible. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 32: 123–136, 1999