On the class of flat stable theories

A new notion of independence relation is given and associated to it, the class of flat theories, a subclass of strong stable theories including the superstable ones is introduced. More precisely, after introducing this independence relation, flat theories are defined as an appropriate version of superstability. It is shown that in a flat theory every type has finite weight and therefore flat theories are strong. Furthermore, it is shown that under reasonable conditions any type is non-orthogonal to a regular one. Concerning groups in flat theories, it is shown that type-definable groups behave like superstable ones, since they satisfy the same chain condition on definable subgroups and also admit a normal series of definable subgroup with semi-regular quotients.     

The monadic theory and the “next world”

Suppose thatV is a model of ZFC andU ∈ V is a topological space or a richer structure for which it makes sense to speak about the monadic theory. LetB be the Boolean algebra of regular open subsets ofU. If the monadic theory ofU allows one to speak in some sense about a family ofκ everywhere dense and almost disjoint sets, then the second-orderV ^B-theory of ϰ is interpretable in the monadicV-theory ofU; this is our Interpretation Theorem. Applying the Interpretation Theorem we strengthen some previous results on complexity of the monadic theories of the real line and some other topological spaces and linear orders. Here are our results about the real line. Letr be a Cohen real overV. The second-orderV[r]-theory of ℵ₀ is interpretable in the monadicV-theory of the real line. If CH holds inV then the second-orderV[r]-theory of the real line is interpretable in the monadicV-theory of the real line. Dedicated to the memory of Abraham Robinson on the tenth anniversary of his death The author thanks the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for supporting the research.     

A combinatorial principle and endomorphism rings I: Onp-groups

Two lines of research are involved here. One is a combinatorial principle, proved in ZFC for many cardinals (e.g., any λ = λ^ℵ ₀) enabling us to prove things which have been proven using the diamond or for strong limit cardinals of uncountable cofinality. The other direction is building abelian groups with few endomorphisms and/or prescribed rings of endomorphisms. We prove that for a ringR, whose additive group is thep-adic completion of a freep-adic module,R is isomorphic to the endomorphism ring of some separable abelianp-groupG divided by the ideal of small endomorphisms, withG of power λ for any λ = λ^ℵ ₀≧|R|. Dedicated to the memory of Abraham Robinson on the tenth anniversary of his death The author would like to thank the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for partially supporting this research.     

On reconstructing separable reducedp-groups with a given socle

Let \(\bar B^* \) be a separable reduced (abelian)p-group which is torsion complete. We ask whether for \(G \subseteq \bar B^* \) there is \(H \subseteq _{pr} \bar B^* ,H[p] = G[p]\) ,H[p]=G[p],H not isomorphic toG. IfG is the sum of cyclic groups or is torsion complete, the answer is easily no. For otherG, we prove that the answer is yes assuming G.C.H. Even without G.C.H. the answer is yes if the density character ofG is equal to Min _n<ω|p ⁿG|, i.e., $$\mathop {Min}\limits_{n< \omega } |p^n G| = \mathop {Min}\limits_m \mathop \Sigma \limits_{n > m} |(p^n G)[p]/(p^{n + 1} G)[p]|$$ Of course, instead of two non-isomorphic we can get many, but we do not deal much with this.     

Pseudo PCF

We continue our investigation on pcf with weak forms of the axiom of choice. Characteristically, we assume DC+P(Y) when looking at \(\prod\nolimits_{s \in Y} {{\delta _s}} \) . We get more parallels of pcf theorems.     

On strongly-non-reflexive groups

A strong negative answer is given to the old question of whether every dual group is reflexive. Using ◊_ω1 a groupA is constructed so thatA, A*, A**, andA*** are weakly ω₁-separable groups of cardinalityω ₁ andA* is not isomorphic toA***. Research partially supported by NSF Grant No. DMS-8400451. Research partially supported by NSERC Grant No. A8948.     

Around random algebra

It is shown that there is a subalgebra of the measure algebra forcing dominating reals. Also results are given about iterated forcing connected with random reals.The first author would like to thank NSF for its partial support under Grant DMS-8701828The second author would like to thank U.S.-Israel BSF for partial supportNote. In the first version of this paper we proved only a weak form of the main result of Sect. 2 (see 2.2). Also, the first version contained a third section, but the main result of that version is a weak form of 2.5     

Can you feel the double jump?

When p = c/n and c goes from less than one to greater than one, the random graph G(n, p) experiences the double jump. The first order language is too weak to recognize this change while there are properties expressable in the second order monadic language for which the change is clear. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A note on canonical functions

We construct a generic extension in which the ℵ₂nd canonical function on ℵ₁ exists. Supported by NSF and by a Fulbright grant. Publ. 378. Partially supported by the B.S.F.     

How special are Cohen and random forcings,i.e. boolean algebras of the family of subsets of reals modulo meagre or null

We prove that any Souslin c.c.c. forcing notion which adds a nondominated real adds a Cohen real. We also prove that any Souslin c.c.c. forcing adds a real which is not on any old “narrow” tree.