Related papers: Madness and regularity properties

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 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…

Assuming the existence of a supercompact cardinal, we construct a model where, for some uncountable regular cardinal $\kappa$, there are no $\Sigma^1_1(\kappa)-\kappa-$mad families.

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 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…

Starting from a model with a Laver-indestructible supercompact cardinal $\kappa$, we construct a model of $ZF+DC_{\kappa}$ where there are no $\kappa$-mad families.

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 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 show that for a Suslin ccc forcing notion $\mathbb Q$ adding a Hechler real, ``$\text{ZF}+\text{DC}_{\omega_1}+$all sets of reals are $I_{\mathbb Q,\aleph_0}$-measurable'' implies the existence of an inner model with a measurable…

We throw some light on the question: is there a MAD family (= a family of infinite subsets of N, the intersection of any two is finite) which is completely separable (i.e. any X subseteq N is included in a finite union of members of the…

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

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 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 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 answer Question~3.2 from Shelah \cite{Sh:666}: Given a maximal almost disjoint (mad) family $\mathcal A$ of size $\aleph_1$, we construct a forcing ${\mathbb Q}(\mathcal A)$ that has Axiom A, is ${}^\omega \omega$-bounding, preserves…

Let $x$ denote a Laver real over $L$. We prove that in $L[x]$ there is a $\Pi^1_1$ infinite mad family. Since $\Pi^1_1$ and $\Sigma^1_2$ sets are Laver measurable in $L[x]$, this shows that there are examples of well-behaved classical…

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…

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…

We prove that ZF+DC+"There are no mad families" is equiconsistent with ZFC.

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…