Monster Model Research Articles

MAXIMAL STABLE QUOTIENTS OF INVARIANT TYPES IN NIP THEORIES

Abstract For a NIP theory T, a sufficiently saturated model ${\mathfrak C}$ of T, and an invariant (over some small subset of ${\mathfrak C}$ ) global type p, we prove that there exists a finest relatively type-definable over a small set of parameters from ${\mathfrak C}$ equivalence relation on the set of realizations of p which has stable quotient. This is a counterpart for equivalence relations of the main result of [2] on the existence of maximal stable quotients of type-definable groups in NIP theories. Our proof adapts the ideas of the proof of this result, working with relatively type-definable subsets of the group of automorphisms of the monster model as defined in [3].

STABILITY RESULTS ASSUMING TAMENESS, MONSTER MODEL, AND CONTINUITY OF NONSPLITTING

Abstract Assuming the existence of a monster model, tameness, and continuity of nonsplitting in an abstract elementary class (AEC), we extend known superstability results: let $\mu>\operatorname {LS}(\mathbf {K})$ be a regular stability cardinal and let $\chi $ be the local character of $\mu $ -nonsplitting. The following holds: 1. When $\mu $ -nonforking is restricted to $(\mu ,\geq \chi )$ -limit models ordered by universal extensions, it enjoys invariance, monotonicity, uniqueness, existence, extension, and continuity. It also has local character $\chi $ . This generalizes Vasey’s result [37, Corollary 13.16] which assumed $\mu $ -superstability to obtain same properties but with local character $\aleph _0$ . 2. There is $\lambda \in [\mu ,h(\mu ))$ such that if $\mathbf {K}$ is stable in every cardinal between $\mu $ and $\lambda $ , then $\mathbf {K}$ has $\mu $ -symmetry while $\mu $ -nonforking in (1) has symmetry. In this case: (a) $\mathbf {K}$ has the uniqueness of $(\mu ,\geq \chi )$ -limit models: if $M_1,M_2$ are both $(\mu ,\geq \chi )$ -limit over some $M_0\in K_{\mu }$ , then $M_1\cong _{M_0}M_2$ ; (b) any increasing chain of $\mu ^+$ -saturated models of length $\geq \chi $ has a $\mu ^+$ -saturated union. These generalize [31] and remove the symmetry assumption in [10, 38] . Under $(<\mu )$ -tameness, the conclusions of (1), (2)(a)(b) are equivalent to $\mathbf {K}$ having the $\chi $ -local character of $\mu $ -nonsplitting. Grossberg and Vasey [18, 38] gave eventual superstability criteria for tame AECs with a monster model. We remove the high cardinal threshold and reduce the cardinal jump between equivalent superstability criteria. We also add two new superstability criteria to the list: a weaker version of solvability and the boundedness of the U-rank.

An AEC framework for fields with commuting automorphisms

In this paper, we introduce an AEC framework for studying fields with commuting automorphisms. Fields with commuting automorphisms are closely related to difference fields. Some authors define a difference ring (or field) as a ring (or field) together with several commuting endomorphisms, while others only study one endomorphism. Z. Chatzidakis and E. Hrushovski have studied in depth the model theory of ACFA, the model companion of difference fields with one automorphism. Our fields with commuting automorphisms generalize this setting. We have several automorphisms and they are required to commute. Hrushovski has proved that in the case of fields with two or more commuting automorphisms, the existentially closed models do not necessarily form a first order model class. In the present paper, we introduce FCA-classes, an AEC framework for studying the existentially closed models of the theory of fields with commuting automorphisms. We prove that an FCA-class has AP and JEP and thus a monster model, that Galois types coincide with existential types in existentially closed models, that the class is homogeneous, and that there is a version of type amalgamation theorem that allows to combine three types under certain conditions. Finally, we use these results to show that our monster model is a simple homogeneous structure in the sense of S. Buechler and O. Lessman (this is a non-elementary analogue for the classification theoretic notion of a simple first order theory).

Co-theory of sorted profinite groups for PAC structures

We achieve several results. First, we develop a variant of the theory of absolute Galois groups in the context of many sorted structures. Second, we provide a method for coding absolute Galois groups of structures, so they can be interpreted in some monster model with an additional predicate. Third, we prove the “Weak Independence Theorem” for pseudo-algebraically closed (PAC) substructures of an ambient structure with no finite cover property (nfcp) and the property [Formula: see text]. Fourth, we describe Kim-dividing in these PAC substructures and show several results related to the SOPnhierarchy. Fifth, we characterize the algebraic closure in PAC structures.

The domination monoid in o-minimal theories

We study the monoid of global invariant types modulo domination-equivalence in the context of o-minimal theories. We reduce its computation to the problem of proving that it is generated by classes of 1-types. We show this to hold in Real Closed Fields, where generators of this monoid correspond to invariant convex subrings of the monster model. Combined with [C. Ealy, D. Haskell and J. Maríková, Residue field domination in real closed valued fields, Notre Dame J. Formal Logic 60(3) (2019) 333–351], this allows us to compute the domination monoid in the weakly o-minimal theory of Real Closed Valued Fields.

Simple-like independence relations in abstract elementary classes

We introduce and study simple and supersimple independence relations in the context of AECs with a monster model.Theorem 0.1LetKbe an AEC with a monster model.•IfKhas a simple independence relation, thenKdoes not have the 2-tree property.•IfKhas a simple independence relation with the(<ℵ0)-witness property for singletons, thenKdoes not have the tree property.The proof of both facts is done by finding cardinal bounds to classes of small Galois-types over a fixed model that are inconsistent for large subsets. We think that this finer way of counting types is an interesting notion in itself.We characterize supersimple independence relations by finiteness of the Lascar rank under locality assumptions on the independence relation.

Invariant Types in Model Theory

We study how the product of global invariant types interacts with the preorder of domination, i.e. semi-isolation by a small type, and the induced equivalence relation, domination-equivalence. We provide sufficient conditions for the latter to be a congruence with respect to the product, and show that this holds in various classes of theories. In this case, we develop a general theory of the quotient semigroup, the domination monoid, and carry out its computation in several cases of interest. Notably, we reduce its study in o-minimal theories to proving generation by 1-types, and completely characterise it in the case of Real Closed Fields. We also provide a full characterisation for the theory of dense meet-trees, and moreover show that the domination monoid is well-defined in certain expansions of it by binary relations. We give an example of a theory where the domination monoid is not commutative, and of one where it is not well-defined, correcting some overly general claims in the literature. We show that definability, finite satisfiability, generic stability, and weak orthogonality to a fixed type are all preserved downwards by domination, hence are domination-equivalence invariants. We study the dependence on the choice of monster model of the quotient of the space of global invariant types by domination-equivalence, and show that if the latter does not depend on the former then the theory under examination is NIP.

On Galois groups and PAC substructures

We show that for an arbitrary stable theory T, a group G is profinite if and only if G occurs as a Galois group of some Galois extension inside a monster model of T. We prove that any PAC substructure of the monster model of T has projective absolute Galois group. Moreover, any projective profinite group G is isomorphic to the absolute Galois group of some substructure P of the monster model. If T is omega-stable, then P can be chosen to be PAC. Finally, we provide a description of some Galois groups of existentially closed substructures with G-action in the terms of the universal Frattini cover. Such structures might be understood as a new examples of PAC structures.

Boundedness and absoluteness of some dynamical invariants in model theory

Let [Formula: see text] be a monster model of an arbitrary theory [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be any (possibly infinite) tuple of bounded length of elements of [Formula: see text], and let [Formula: see text] be an enumeration of all elements of [Formula: see text] (so a tuple of unbounded length). By [Formula: see text] we denote the compact space of all complete types over [Formula: see text] extending [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] is defined analogously. Then [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are naturally [Formula: see text]-flows (even [Formula: see text]-ambits). We show that the Ellis groups of both these flows are of bounded size (i.e. smaller than the degree of saturation of [Formula: see text]), providing an explicit bound on this size. Next, we prove that these Ellis groups do not depend (as groups equipped with the so-called [Formula: see text]-topology) on the choice of the monster model [Formula: see text]; thus, we say that these Ellis groups are absolute. We also study minimal left ideals (equivalently subflows) of the Ellis semigroups of the flows [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We give an example of a NIP theory in which the minimal left ideals are of unbounded size. Then we show that in each of these two cases, boundedness of a minimal left ideal (equivalently, of all the minimal left ideals) is an absolute property (i.e. it does not depend on the choice of [Formula: see text]) and that whenever such an ideal is bounded, then in some sense its isomorphism type is also absolute. Under the assumption that [Formula: see text] has NIP, we give characterizations (in various terms) of when a minimal left ideal of the Ellis semigroup of [Formula: see text] is bounded. Then we adapt the proof of Theorem 5.7 in Definably amenable NIP groups, J. Amer. Math. Soc. 31 (2018) 609–641 to show that whenever such an ideal is bounded, a certain natural epimorphism (described in [K. Krupiński, A. Pillay and T. Rzepecki, Topological dynamics and the complexity of strong types, Israel J. Math. 228 (2018) 863–932]) from the Ellis group of the flow [Formula: see text] to the Kim–Pillay Galois group [Formula: see text] is an isomorphism (in particular, [Formula: see text] is G-compact). We also obtain some variants of these results, formulate some questions, and explain differences (providing a few counterexamples) which occur when the flow [Formula: see text] is replaced by [Formula: see text].

GROUPOIDS AND RELATIVE INTERNALITY

AbstractIn a stable theory, a stationary type $q \in S\left( A \right)$ internal to a family of partial types ${\cal P}$ over A gives rise to a type-definable group, called its binding group. This group is isomorphic to the group $Aut\left( {q/{\cal P},A} \right)$ of permutations of the set of realizations of q, induced by automorphisms of the monster model, fixing ${\cal P}\,\mathop \cup \nolimits \,A$ pointwise. In this article, we investigate families of internal types varying uniformly, what we will call relative internality. We prove that the binding groups also vary uniformly, and are the isotropy groups of a natural type-definable groupoid (and even more). We then investigate how properties of this groupoid are related to properties of the type. In particular, we obtain internality criteria for certain 2-analysable types, and a sufficient condition for a type to preserve internality.

Model theoretic dynamics in Galois fashion

We fix a monster model D of some stable theory and investigate substructures of D which are existentially closed within the class of substructures equipped with an action of a fixed group G. We describe them as PAC substructures of D and obtain results related to Galois theory.Assuming that the class of these existentially closed substructures is elementary, we show that, under the assumption of having bounded models, its theory is simple and eliminates quantifiers up to some existential formulas. Moreover, this theory codes finite sets and allows a geometric elimination of imaginaries, but not always a weak elimination of imaginaries.

Topological dynamics and the complexity of strong types

We develop topological dynamics for the group of automorphisms of a monster model of any given theory. In particular, we find strong relationships between objects from topological dynamics (such as the generalized Bohr compactification introduced by Glasner) and various Galois groups of the theory in question, obtaining essentially new information about them, e.g., we present the closure of the identity in the Lascar Galois group of the theory as the quotient of a compact, Hausdorff group by a dense subgroup. We apply this to describe the complexity of bounded, invariant equivalence relations, obtaining comprehensive results, subsuming and extending the existing results and answering some open questions from earlier papers. We show that, in a countable theory, any such relation restricted to the set of realizations of a complete type over O is type-definable if and only if it is smooth. Then we show a counterpart of this result for theories in an arbitrary (not necessarily countable) language, obtaining also new information involving relative definability of the relation in question. As a final conclusion we get the following trichotomy. Let $$\mathfrak{C}$$ be a monster model of a countable theory, p ∈ S(O), and E be a bounded, (invariant) Borel (or, more generally, analytic) equivalence relation on p( $$\mathfrak{C}$$ ). Then, exactly one of the following holds: (1) E is relatively definable (on p( $$\mathfrak{C}$$ )), smooth, and has finitely many classes, (2) E is not relatively definable, but it is type-definable, smooth, and has 2ℵ0 classes, (3) E is not type definable and not smooth, and has 2ℵ0 classes. All the results which we obtain for bounded, invariant equivalence relations carry over to the case of bounded index, invariant subgroups of definable groups.

EQUIVALENT DEFINITIONS OF SUPERSTABILITY IN TAME ABSTRACT ELEMENTARY CLASSES

AbstractIn the context of abstract elementary classes (AECs) with a monster model, several possible definitions of superstability have appeared in the literature. Among them are no long splitting chains, uniqueness of limit models, and solvability. Under the assumption that the class is tame and stable, we show that (asymptotically) no long splitting chains implies solvability and uniqueness of limit models implies no long splitting chains. Using known implications, we can then conclude that all the previously-mentioned definitions (and more) are equivalent:Corollary.LetKbe a tame AEC with a monster model. Assume thatKis stable in a proper class of cardinals. The following are equivalent:(1)For all high-enough λ,Khas no long splitting chains.(2)For all high-enough λ, there exists a good λ-frame on a skeleton ofKλ.(3)For all high-enough λ,Khas a unique limit model of cardinality λ.(4)For all high-enough λ,Khas a superlimit model of cardinality λ.(5)For all high-enough λ, the union of any increasing chain of λ-saturated models is λ-saturated.(6)There exists μ such that for all high-enough λ,Kis (λ,μ) -solvable.This gives evidence that there is a clear notion of superstability in the framework of tame AECs with a monster model.

Beyond abstract elementary classes: On the model theory of geometric lattices

Based on Crapo's theory of one point extensions of combinatorial geometries, we find various classes of geometric lattices that behave very well from the point of view of stability theory. One of them, (K3,≼), is ω-stable, it has a monster model and an independence calculus that satisfies all the usual properties of non-forking. On the other hand, these classes are rather unusual, e.g. in (K3,≼) the Smoothness Axiom fails, and so (K3,≼) is not an AEC.

DEFINABLE TOPOLOGICAL DYNAMICS

AbstractFor a group G definable in a first order structure M we develop basic topological dynamics in the category of definable G-flows. In particular, we give a description of the universal definable G-ambit and of the semigroup operation on it. We find a natural epimorphism from the Ellis group of this flow to the definable Bohr compactification of G, that is to the quotient ${G^{\rm{*}}}/G_M^{{\rm{*}}00}$ (where G* is the interpretation of G in a monster model). More generally, we obtain these results locally, i.e., in the category of Δ-definable G-flows for any fixed set Δ of formulas of an appropriate form. In particular, we define local connected components $G_{{\rm{\Delta }},M}^{{\rm{*}}00}$ and $G_{{\rm{\Delta }},M}^{{\rm{*}}000}$, and show that ${G^{\rm{*}}}/G_{{\rm{\Delta }},M}^{{\rm{*}}00}$ is the Δ-definable Bohr compactification of G. We also note that some deeper arguments from [14] can be adapted to our context, showing for example that our epimorphism from the Ellis group to the Δ-definable Bohr compactification factors naturally yielding a continuous epimorphism from the Δ-definable generalized Bohr compactification to the Δ-definable Bohr compactification of G. Finally, we propose to view certain topological-dynamic and model-theoretic invariants as Polish structures which leads to some observations and questions.

Orbits of subsets of the monster model and geometric theories

Let M be the monster model of a complete first-order theory T. If D is a subset of M, following D. Zambella we consider e(D)={D′|(M,D)≡(M,D′)} and o(D)={D′|(M,D)≅(M,D′)}. The general question we ask is when e(D)=o(D)? The case where D is A-invariant for some small set A is rather straightforward: it just means that D is definable. We investigate the case where D is not invariant over any small subset. If T is geometric and (M,D) is an H-structure (in the sense of A. Berenstein and E. Vassiliev) we get some answers. In the case of SU-rank one, e(D) is always different from o(D). In the o-minimal case, everything can happen, depending on the complexity of the definable closure. We also study the case of lovely pairs of geometric theories.

What Frankenstein can teach engineers [Spectral Lines

When a designer of smartphone cases made a Frankenstein Monster model for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the company eerily presaged the fate of what has become the most notorious digital device of the decade. Banned from airplanes and the source of sundry injuries because of a penchant for bursting into flames, the Galaxy 7 deserves to be studied by engineers for lessons about responsible practice.

On model-theoretic connected components in some group extensions

We analyze model-theoretic connected components in extensions of a given group by abelian groups which are defined by means of 2-cocycles with finite image. We characterize, in terms of these 2-cocycles, when the smallest type-definable subgroup of the corresponding extension differs from the smallest invariant subgroup. In some situations, we also describe the quotient of these two connected components. Using our general results about extensions of groups together with Matsumoto–Moore theory or various quasi-characters considered in bounded cohomology, we obtain new classes of examples of groups whose smallest type-definable subgroup of bounded index differs from the smallest invariant subgroup of bounded index. This includes the first known example of a group with this property found by Conversano and Pillay, namely the universal cover of [Formula: see text] (interpreted in a monster model), as well as various examples of different nature, e.g. some central extensions of free groups or of fundamental groups of closed orientable surfaces. As a corollary, we get that both non-abelian free groups and fundamental groups of closed orientable surfaces of genus [Formula: see text], expanded by predicates for all subsets, have this property, too. We also obtain a variant of the example of Conversano and Pillay for [Formula: see text] instead of [Formula: see text], which (as most of our examples) was not accessible by the previously known methods.

Elementary classes of finite VC-dimension

Let U be a monster model and let D be a subset of U. Let (U,D) denote theexpansion of U with a new predicate for D. Write e(D) for the collection of all subsets C of U such that (U,C) is elementary equivalent to (U,D). We prove that if e(D) has finite VC-dimension then D is externally definable (i.e. it is the trace on U of a set definable in an elementary superstructure of U).

Amalgamation functors and boundary properties in simple theories

This paper continues the study of generalized amalgamation properties begun in [1], [2], [3], [5] and [6]. Part of the paper provides a finer analysis of the groupoids that arise from failure of 3-uniqueness in a stable theory. We show that such groupoids must be abelian and we link the binding group of the groupoids to a certain automorphism group of the monster model, showing that the group must be abelian as well.We also study connections between n-existence and n-uniqueness properties for various “dimensions” n in the wider context of simple theories. We introduce a family of weaker existence and uniqueness properties. Many of these properties did appear in the literature before; we give a category-theoretic formulation and study them systematically. Finally, we give examples of first-order simple unstable theories showing, in particular, that there is no straightforward generalization of the groupoid construction in an unstable context.