English

Non-Absoluteness of Model Existence at $\aleph_\omega$

Logic 2019-12-11 v2

Abstract

In [FHK13], the authors considered the question whether model-existence of Lω1,ωL_{\omega_1,\omega}-sentences is absolute for transitive models of ZFC, in the sense that if VWV \subseteq W are transitive models of ZFC with the same ordinals, φV\varphi\in V and V"φ is an Lω1,ω-sentence"V\models "\varphi \text{ is an } L_{\omega_1,\omega}\text{-sentence}", then V"φ has a model of size α"V \models "\varphi \text{ has a model of size } \aleph_\alpha" if and only if W"φ has a model of size α"W \models "\varphi \text{ has a model of size } \aleph_\alpha". From [FHK13] we know that the answer is positive for α=0,1\alpha=0,1 and under the negation of CH, the answer is negative for all α>1\alpha>1. Under GCH, and assuming the consistency of a supercompact cardinal, the answer remains negative for each α>1\alpha>1, except the case when α=ω\alpha=\omega which is an open question in [FHK13]. We answer the open question by providing a negative answer under GCH even for α=ω\alpha=\omega. Our examples are incomplete sentences. In fact, the same sentences can be used to prove a negative answer under GCH for all α>1\alpha>1 assuming the consistency of a Mahlo cardinal. Thus, the large cardinal assumption is relaxed from a supercompact in [FHK13] to a Mahlo cardinal. Finally, we consider the absoluteness question for the α\aleph_\alpha-amalgamation property of Lω1,ωL_{\omega_1,\omega}-sentences (under substructure). We prove that assuming GCH, α\aleph_\alpha-amalgamation is non-absolute for 1<α<ω1<\alpha<\omega. This answers a question from [SS]. The cases α=1\alpha=1 and α\alpha infinite remain open. As a corollary we get that it is non-absolute that the amalgamation spectrum of an Lω1,ωL_{\omega_1,\omega}-sentence is empty.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1706.04238,
  title  = {Non-Absoluteness of Model Existence at $\aleph_\omega$},
  author = {David Milovich and Ioannis Souldatos},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1706.04238},
  year   = {2019}
}