English

Disjoint non-forking amalgamation in stable AECs

Logic 2026-01-22 v2

Abstract

The disjoint amalgamation property (DAP), which asserts that all spans of a class of models can be amalgamated with minimal intersection, is an important property in the context of abstract elementary classes, with connections to both Grossberg's question and Shelah's categoricity conjecture. We prove that, in a nice AEC K\mathbf{K} stable in λLS(K)\lambda \geq \operatorname{LS}(\mathbf{K}) with a strong enough independence relation, all high cofinality λ\lambda-limit models are disjoint (non-forking) amalgamation bases. Theorem.\textbf{Theorem.} Let K\mathbf{K} be an AEC stable in λ\lambda, where Kλ\mathbf{K}_\lambda has AP, JEP, and NMM, and let K\mathbf{K}' be some AC where K(λ,κ)KKλ\mathbf{K}_{(\lambda,\geq\kappa)} \subseteq \mathbf{K}' \subseteq \mathbf{K}_\lambda. Suppose there is an independence relation on K\mathbf{K}' satisfying uniqueness, existence, non-forking amalgamation, K(λ,κ)\mathbf{K}_{(\lambda,\geq\kappa)}-universal continuity* in Kλ\mathbf{K}_\lambda, and (κ)(\geq \kappa)-local character. Assume M0,M1,M2K(λ,κ)M_0, M_1, M_2 \in \mathbf{K}_{(\lambda,\geq\kappa)}, and that M0KMlM_0 \leq_{\mathbf{K}} M_l and alMla_l \in M_l for l=1,2l = 1, 2. Then there exist NK(λ,κ)N \in \mathbf{K}_{(\lambda,\geq\kappa)} and fl:MlNf_l : M_l \rightarrow N fixing M0M_0 for l=1,2l = 1, 2 such that gtp(fl(al)/f3l[M3l],N)\operatorname{gtp}(f_l(a_l)/f_{3-l}[M_{3-l}], N) does not fork over M0M_0 and f1[M1]f2[M2]=M0f_1[M_1] \cap f_2[M_2] = M_0. That is, our independence relation has disjoint non-forking amalgamation in K(λ,κ)\mathbf{K}_{(\lambda,\geq\kappa)}. In particular, every M0K(λ,κ)M_0 \in \mathbf{K}_{(\lambda,\geq\kappa)} is a disjoint amalgamation base in Kλ\mathbf{K}_\lambda. The hypotheses on the independence relation can be weakened (closer to λ\lambda-non-splitting in λ\lambda-stable AECs) if we are willing to give up the `non-forking' conditions of the amalgamation.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2601.12439,
  title  = {Disjoint non-forking amalgamation in stable AECs},
  author = {Jeremy Beard},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.12439},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

28 pages. Key words and phrases: Disjoint amalgamation; Limit models; Abstract Elementary Classes; Stability; Towers

R2 v1 2026-07-01T09:09:33.558Z