English

On Shelah's Approachability Ideal

Logic 2025-08-07 v1

Abstract

We solve a long-standing open problem of Shelah regarding the \emph{Approachability Ideal} I[κ+]I[\kappa^+]. Given a singular cardinal γ\aleph_\gamma, a regular cardinal μ(cf(γ),γ)\mu\in (\mathrm{cf}(\gamma),\aleph_\gamma) and assuming appropriate large cardinal hypotheses, we construct a model of ZFC\mathsf{ZFC} in which γ+1cof(μ)I[γ+1]\aleph_{\gamma+1} \cap \mathrm{cof}(\mu) \notin I[\aleph_{\gamma+1}]. This provides a definitive answer to a question of Shelah from the 80's. In addition, assuming large cardinals, we construct a model of ZFC\mathsf{ZFC} in which the approachability property fails, simultaneously, at every singular cardinal. This is a major milestone in the solution of a question of Foreman and Magidor from the 80's.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2508.04374,
  title  = {On Shelah's Approachability Ideal},
  author = {Hannes Jakob and Alejandro Poveda},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.04374},
  year   = {2025}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T04:37:13.456Z