English

Low level definability above large cardinals

Logic 2026-03-13 v4

Abstract

We study connections between definability in generalized descriptive set theory and large cardinals, under ZFC. We show that if κ\kappa is a limit of measurables then there is no wellorder of a subset of P(κ)P(\kappa) of length κ+\geq\kappa^+ which is Σ1(VκOR)\Sigma_1(V_\kappa\cup\mathrm{OR}), answering a question of L\"ucke and M\"uller. However, consistently, a Woodin cardinal exists and for every uncountable cardinal κ\kappa which is not a limit of measurables, there is a Σ1(Hκ{κ})\Sigma_1(H_\kappa\cup\{\kappa\})-good wellorder of Hκ+H_{\kappa^+}. If κ\kappa is a limit of measurables and κ\kappa has uncountable cofinality then there is no Σ1(VκOR)\Sigma_1(V_\kappa\cup\mathrm{OR}) almost disjoint family FP(κ)F\subseteq P(\kappa) of cardinality >κ>\kappa. Consistently, Π1({κ})\Pi_1(\{\kappa\}) mad families and maximal independent families FP(κ)F\subseteq P(\kappa) exist, κ\kappa is a limit of measurables, and more. If κ\kappa is weakly compact and every Σ1(Vκ{κ})\Sigma_1(V_\kappa\cup\{\kappa\}) subset of P(κ)P(\kappa) of cardinality >κ>\kappa contains a perfect subset of the right kind, then there is an inner model with a weakly compact limit of measurables. We prove some related facts regarding Σ1(Vλ{Vλ}OR)\Sigma_1(V_\lambda\cup\{V_\lambda\}\cup\mathrm{OR}) when I2(λ)I_2(\lambda) holds. These depend on an analysis of fixed points of linear iterations involving I2(λ)I_2(\lambda)-extenders.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2401.01979,
  title  = {Low level definability above large cardinals},
  author = {Farmer Schlutzenberg},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.01979},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

29 pages. Author accepted version of article to appear in NDJFL. Minor correct Lem 2.2 prf, Thm 10.1 prf; change statement/prf Lem 2.12; add mu-complete hyp Thm 3.2; fill gap prf Thm 3.3(1); sec 3.3 vast expand+correct; correct def "Gamma-good" wellorder; correct stmt Claim 5(2f) in Thm 5.1 prf; Thm 6.1 prf changed def of eta; improve expos Lem 2.10; expand bib; other minor correct/improve

R2 v1 2026-06-28T14:08:13.592Z