The thickness lemma from P− + IΣ1 + ¬BΣ2

Abstract

Let P− denote the Peano axioms minus the induction scheme. Let IΣn, (I∏n), BΣn (B∏n), LΣn (L∏n denote the induction scheme, the collection scheme, and the least number principle for Σn-(∏n-) formulas respectively. Paris and Kirby [3] studied the relative proof-theoretic strengths of those schemes. The general theorem states that IΣn, I∏n, LΣn, and L∏n are equivalent; IΣn implies BΣn implies IΣn–1; but not conversely.In recent years, people have been interested in doing recursion theory on fragments of arithmetic. One of the purposes of this study is to understand the priority methods. Much work has been done in this area. For example, M. Mytilinaios [5] showed that the Sacks splitting theorem can be proven in P− + IΣ1. Later, J. Mourad showed that the Sacks splitting theorem is indeed equivalent to IΣ1 [4]. M. Groszek and M. Mytilinaios [1] showed that P− + IΣ2 is sufficient to prove the existence of a high incomplete r.e. set. On the other hand, M. Mytilinaios and T. Slaman [6] showed that P− + IΣ1 is too weak to prove the existence of such a set. A natural question to ask is if the existence of such a set implies IΣ2. In this paper, we will show the answer is negative by constructing a model of P− + IΣ1 + ¬BΣ2 which has a high incomplete r.e. set. Notice that, as shown by M. Groszek and T. Slaman in [2], P− + IΣ1 is too weak to show the transitivity of weak Turing reducibility on Σ2-sets.