Related papers: MAD Families and SANE Player

A MAD (maximal almost disjoint) family is an infinite subset A of the infinite subsets of {0,1,2,..} such that any two elements of A intersect in a finite set and every infinite subset of {0.1.2...} meets some element of $\aa$ in an…

We consider the definability of mad families in vector spaces of the form $\underset{n<\omega}{\bigoplus} F$ where $F$ is a field of cardinality $\leq \aleph_0$. We show that there is no analytic mad family of subspaces when…

We consider weakenings of normality in $\Psi$-spaces and prove that the existence of a MAD family whose $\Psi$-space is almost-normal is independent of \textsf{ZFC}. We also construct a partly-normal not quasi-normal AD family, answering…

We show that if all collections of infinite subsets of $\N$ have the Ramsey property, then there are no infinite maximal almost disjoint (mad) families. This solves a long-standing problem going back to Mathias \cite{mathias}. The proof…

Given a family $F$ of pairwise almost disjoint sets on a countable set $S$, we study maximal almost disjoint (mad) families $F^+$ extending $F$. We define $a^+(F)$ to be the minimal possible cardinality of $F^+\setminus F$ for such $F^+$,…

We prove the consistency of ZF+DC+"there are no mad families"+"there exists a non-meager filter on $\omega$" relative to ZFC, answering a question of Neeman and Norwood. We also introduce a weaker version of madness, and we strengthen the…

We show that there are no infinite maximal almost disjoint ("mad") families in Solovay's model, thus solving a long-standing problem posed by A.D.R. Mathias in 1967. We also give a new proof of Mathias' theorem that no analytic infinite…

The mad spectrum is the set of all cardinalities of infinite maximal almost disjoint families on omega. We treat the problem to characterize those sets A which, in some forcing extension of the universe, can be the mad spectrum. We solve…

We study two different types of (maximal) almost disjoint families: very mad families and (maximal) cofinitary groups. For the very mad families we prove the basic existence results. We prove that MA implies there exist many pairwise…

We show that under the Bounded Proper Forcing Axiom and an anti-large cardinal assumption, there is a $\mathbf{\Pi}^1_2$ MAD family.

We prove in ZFC that there is a MAD family of functions in omega^omega which is also maximal with respect to infinite partial functions. This solves a 20 year old question of Van Douwen. We also strengthen a result of J. Steprans stating…

Starting from an inaccessible cardinal, we construct a model of $ZF+DC$ where there exists a mad family and all sets of reals are $\mathbb Q$-measurable for $\omega^{\omega}$-bounding sufficiently absolute forcing notions $\mathbb Q$.

Let $E$ be a vector space over a countable field of dimension $\aleph_0$. Two infinite-dimensional subspaces $V,W \subseteq E$ are almost disjoint if $V \cap W$ is finite-dimensional. This paper provides some improvements on results about…

We prove that every MAD family can be destroyed by a proper forcing that preserves $P$-points. With this result, we prove that it is consistent that $\omega_{1}=\mathfrak{u}<\mathfrak{a,}$ solving a nearly 20 year old problem of Shelah and…

We consider maximal almost disjoint families of block subspaces of countable vector spaces, focusing on questions of their size and definability. We prove that the minimum infinite cardinality of such a family cannot be decided in ZFC and…

We prove that if there is a dominating family of size ${\aleph}_{1}$, then there is are ${\aleph}_{1}$ many compact subsets of ${\omega}^{\omega}$ whose union is a maximal almost disjoint family of functions that is also maximal with…

We study the notion of $\mathcal J$-MAD families where $\mathcal J$ is a Borel ideal on $\omega$. We show that if $\mathcal J$ is an arbitrary $F_\sigma$ ideal, or is any finite or countably iterated Fubini product of $F_\sigma$ ideals,…

In this note we construct two infinite snark families which have high oddness and low circumference compared to the number of vertices. Using this construction, we also give a counterexample to a suggested strengthening of Fulkerson's…

We give a combinatorial characterization of when a maximal almost disjoint family of a weakly compact cardinal $\kappa$ is indestructible by the higher random forcing $\mathbb Q_\kappa$. We then use this characterisation to show that…

We prove that CH implies the existence of a Cohen-indestructible mad family such that the Mathias forcing associated to its filter adds dominating reals, while $\mathfrak b=\mathfrak c$ is consistent with the negation of this statement as…