We summarize the known methods of producing a non-supercompact strongly compact cardinal and describe some new variants. Our Main Theorem shows how to apply these methods to many cardinals simultaneously and exactly control which cardinals are supercompact and which are only strongly compact in a forcing extension. Depending upon the method, the surviving non-supercompact strongly compact cardinals can be strong cardinals, have trivial Mitchell rank or even contain a club disjoint from the set of measurable cardinals. These results improve and unify previous results of the first author.
We prove that the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis holds above a supercompact cardinal assuming the Ultrapower Axiom, an abstract comparison principle motivated by inner model theory at the level of supercompact cardinals.
I analyze the hierarchy of large cardinals between a supercompact cardinal and an almost-huge cardinal. Many of these cardinals are defined by modifying the definition of a high-jump cardinal. A high-jump cardinal is defined as the critical point of an elementary embedding $j: V \to M$ such that $M$ is closed under sequences of length $\sup\set{j(f)(κ) \st f: κ\to κ}$. Some of the other cardinals analyzed include the super-high-jump cardinals, almost-high-jump cardinals, Shelah-for-supercompactness cardinals, Woodin-for-supercompactness cardinals, \Vopenka\ cardinals, hypercompact cardinals, a…
A ccc-generically supercompact cardinal $κ$ can be smaller than or equal to the continuum. On the other hand, such a cardinal $κ$ still satisfies diverse largeness properties, like that it is a stationary limit of ccc-generically measurable cardinals (Theorem 4.1). This is in a strong contrast to $\cal P$-generically supercompact cardinals for the class $\cal P$ of all $σ$-closed posets, which can be $\aleph_n$ for any n>1.
We show that if the weak compactness of a cardinal is made indestructible by means of any preparatory forcing of a certain general type, including any forcing naively resembling the Laver preparation, then the cardinal was originally supercompact. We then apply this theorem to show that the hypothesis of supercompactness is necessary for certain proof schemata.
We construct a variety of inner models exhibiting features usually obtained by forcing over universes with large cardinals. For example, if there is a supercompact cardinal, then there is an inner model with a Laver indestructible supercompact cardinal. If there is a supercompact cardinal, then there is an inner model with a supercompact cardinal κfor which 2^κ=κ^+, another for which 2^κ=κ^++ and another in which the least strongly compact cardinal is supercompact. If there is a strongly compact cardinal, then there is an inner model with a strongly compact cardinal, for which the measurable c…
We prove a revised version of Laver's indestructibility theorem which slightly improves over the classical result. An application yields the consistency of $(κ^+,κ)\notcc(\aleph\_1,\aleph\_0)$ when $κ$ is supercompact. The actual proofs show that $ω\_1$-regressive Kurepa-trees are consistent above a supercompact cardinal even though ${\rm MM}$ destroys them on all regular cardinals. This rather paradoxical fact contradicts the common intuition.
We show relative to strong hypotheses that patterns of compact cardinals in the universe, where a compact cardinal is one which is either strongly compact or supercompact, can be virtually arbitrary. Specifically, we prove if V is a model of ``ZFC + Omega is the least inaccessible limit of measurable limits of supercompact cardinals + f :Omega-->2 is a function'', then there is a partial ordering P in V so that for Vbar = V^P, Vbar_Omega models ``ZFC + There is a proper class of compact cardinals + If f(alpha) = 0, then the alpha-th compact cardinal isn't supercompact + If f(alpha) = 1, then t…
We determine the large cardinal consistency strength of the existence of a $λ$-supercompact cardinal $κ$ such that GCH fails at $λ$. Indeed, we show that the existence of a $λ$-supercompact cardinal $κ$ such that $2^λ\geq θ$ is equiconsistent with the existence of a $λ$-supercompact cardinal that is also $θ$-tall. We also prove some basic facts about the large cardinal notion of tallness with closure.
We build a supercompact version of the forcing defined in \cite{gitik2019}. For each singular cardinal in the ground model with any fixed cofinality, which is a limit of supercompact cardinals, it is possible to force so that the size of the powerset of the singular cardinal is arbitrarily large, while preserving the singular cardinal. An important feature of this forcing is that it is possible to define the forcing so that the successor of the singular cardinal is collapsed, but all the cardinals above it are preserved.
From a suitable large cardinal hypothesis, we provide a model with a supercompact cardinal in which universal indestructibility holds: every supercompact and partially supercompact cardinal kappa is fully indestructible by kappa-directed closed forcing. Such a state of affairs is impossible with two supercompact cardinals or even with a cardinal which is supercompact beyond a measurable cardinal.
We prove from suitable large cardinal hypotheses that the least weakly compact cardinal can be unfoldable, weakly measurable and even nearly $θ$-supercompact, for any desired $θ$. In addition, we prove several global results showing how the entire class of weakly compact cardinals, a proper class, can be made to coincide with the class of unfoldable cardinals, with the class of weakly measurable cardinals or with the class of nearly $θ_κ$-supercompact cardinals $κ$, for nearly any desired function $κ\mapstoθ_κ$. These results answer several questions that had been open in the literature and ex…
Supercompact extender based forcings are used to construct models with HOD cardinal structure different from those of V. In particular, a model with all regular uncountable cardinals measurable in HOD is constructed.
We show that supercompactness and strong compactness can be equivalent even as properties of pairs of regular cardinals. Specifically, we show that if V models ZFC + GCH is a given model (which in interesting cases contains instances of supercompactness), then there is some cardinal and cofinality preserving generic extension V[G] models ZFC + GCH in which, (a) (preservation) for kappa <= lambda regular, if V models ``kappa is lambda supercompact'', then V[G] models ``kappa is lambda supercompact'' and so that, (b) (equivalence) for kappa <= lambda regular, V[G] models ``kappa is lambda strong…
The inner model problem for supercompact cardinals, one of the central open problems in modern set theory, asks whether there is a canonical model of set theory with a supercompact cardinal. The problem is closely related to the more precise question of the equiconsistency of strongly compact cardinals and supercompact cardinals. This dissertation approaches these two problems abstractly by introducing a principle called the Ultrapower Axiom which is expected to hold in all known canonical models of set theory. By investigating the consequences of the Ultrapower Axiom under the hypothesis that…
Motivated by the goal of constructing a model in which there are no $κ$-Aronszajn trees for any regular $κ>\aleph_1$, we produce a model with many singular cardinals where both the singular cardinals hypothesis and weak square fail.
Suppose $κ$ is $λ$-supercompact witnessed by an elementary embedding $j:V\rightarrow M$ with critical point $κ$, and further suppose that $F$ is a function from the class of regular cardinals to the class of cardinals satisfying the requirements of Easton's theorem: (1) $\forallα$ $α<\textrm{cf}(F(α))$ and (2) $α<β$ $\Longrightarrow$ $F(α)\leq F(β)$. In this article we address the question: assuming GCH, what additional assumptions are necessary on $j$ and $F$ if one wants to be able to force the continuum function to agree with $F$ globally, while preserving the $λ$-supercompactness of $κ$? W…
Assuming an abstract comparison principle called the Ultrapower Axiom, which is motivated by the comparison process of inner model theory and generalizes the statement that the Mitchell order is linear on normal ultrafilters, we characterize strongly compact cardinals in terms of supercompactness: a strongly compact cardinal is either supercompact or a limit of supercompact cardinals. Assuming the Ultrapower Axiom and the GCH, we also prove a local result that roughly states that every countably complete ultrafilter factors as a finite iteration of supercompact ultrafilters.
We prove that large cardinals need not generally exhibit their large cardinal nature in HOD. For example, a supercompact cardinal $κ$ need not be weakly compact in HOD, and there can be a proper class of supercompact cardinals in $V$, none of them weakly compact in HOD, with no supercompact cardinals in HOD. Similar results hold for many other types of large cardinals, such as measurable and strong cardinals.
An inaccessible cardinal $κ$ is supercompact when $(κ, λ)$-ITP holds for all $λ\geq κ.$ We prove that if there is a model of $\ZFC$ with two supercompact cardinals, then there is a model of \ZFC where simultaneously $(\aleph_2, μ)$-ITP and $(\aleph_3, μ')$-ITP hold, for all $μ\geq \aleph_2$ and $μ'\geq \aleph_3.$
The Gap Forcing Theorem, a key contribution of this paper, implies essentially that after any reverse Easton iteration of closed forcing, such as the Laver preparation, every supercompactness measure on a supercompact cardinal extends a measure from the ground model. Thus, such forcing can create no new supercompact cardinals, and, if the GCH holds, neither can it increase the degree of supercompactness of any cardinal; in particular, it can create no new measurable cardinals. In a crescendo of what I call exact preservation theorems, I use this new technology to perform a kind of partial Lave…
An inaccessible cardinal kappa is supercompact when (kappa, lambda)-ITP holds for all lambda greater than or equal to kappa. We prove that if there is a model of ZFC with infinitely many supercompact cardinals, then there is a model of ZFC where for every natural number n greater than 1 and for every ordinal mu greater than or equal to aleph_n, we have (aleph_n, mu)-ITP.
Given a Woodin cardinal $δ$, I show that if $F$ is any Easton function with $F"δ\subseteqδ$ and $\GCH$ holds, then there is a cofinality-preserving forcing extension in which $2^γ= F(γ)$ for each regular cardinal $γ<δ$, and in which $δ$ remains Woodin. I also present a new example in which forcing a certain behavior of the continuum function on the regular cardinals, while preserving a given large cardinal, requires large cardinal strength beyond that of the original large cardinal under consideration. Specifically, I prove that the existence of a $λ$-supercompact cardinal $κ$ such that $\GCH$…
This paper explores several topics related to Woodin's HOD conjecture. We improve the large cardinal hypothesis of Woodin's HOD dichotomy theorem from an extendible cardinal to a strongly compact cardinal. We show that assuming there is a strongly compact cardinal and the HOD hypothesis holds, there is no elementary embedding from HOD to HOD, settling a question of Woodin. We show that the HOD hypothesis is equivalent to a uniqueness property of elementary embeddings of levels of the cumulative hierarchy. We prove that the HOD hypothesis holds if and only if every regular cardinal above the fi…
Starting from the existence of many supercompact cardinals, we construct a model of ZFC in which the tree property holds at a countable segment of successor of singular cardinals.
Let $\mathrm{cof}(μ)=μ$ and $κ$ be a supercompact cardinal with $μ<κ$. Assume that there is an increasing and continuous sequence of cardinals $\langleκ_ξ\mid ξ<μ\rangle$ with $κ_0:=κ$ and such that, for each $ξ<μ$, $κ_{ξ+1}$ is supercompact. Besides, assume that $λ$ is a weakly compact cardinal with $\sup_{ξ<μ}κ_ξ<λ$. Let $Θ\geqλ$ be a cardinal with $\mathrm{cof}(Θ)>κ$. Assuming the $\mathrm{GCH}_{\geqκ}$, we construct a generic extension where $κ$ is strong limit, $\mathrm{cof}(κ)=μ$, $2^κ= Θ$ and both $\mathrm{TP}(κ^+)$ and $\mathrm{TP}(κ^{++})$ hold. Further, in this model there is a very …
We prove that $α_M(λ)$ can be successor of a supercompact cardinal, when $λ$ is a Magidor cardinal. From this result we obtain the consistency of $α_M(λ)$ being a successor of a singular cardinal with uncountable cofinality.
We give a new proof of a theorem of Becker that under AD+V=L(R), omega_2 is a kappa-supercompact for every kappa less than or equal to the supremum of all Suslin cardinals. Our proof uses inner model theory. It is still open whether one can prove, say under AD_R, that Suslin cardinals and their successors are <Theta-supercompact. That this is true is a theorem of Steve Jackson, who proved it using generic codes.
Generalizing some earlier techniques due to the second author, we show that Menas' theorem which states that the least cardinal kappa which is a measurable limit of supercompact or strongly compact cardinals is strongly compact but not 2^kappa supercompact is best possible. Using these same techniques, we also extend and give a new proof of a theorem of Woodin and extend and give a new proof of an unpublished theorem due to the first author.
Assuming that $GCH$ holds and $κ$ is $κ^{+3}$-supercompact, we construct a generic extension $W$ of $V$ in which $κ$ remains strongly inaccessible and $(α^+)^{HOD} < α^+$ for every infinite cardinal $α< κ$. In particular the rank-initial segment $W_κ$ is a model of ZFC in which $(α^+)^{HOD} < α^+$ for every infinite cardinal $α$.
In other work we have outlined how, building on ideas of Welch and Roberts, one can motivate believing in the existence of supercompact cardinals. After making this observation we strove to formulate a justification for large-cardinal axioms of greater strength, and arrived at a motivation for a new large-cardinal property, which we define here and prove to be equivalent to the property of being a Vopěnka scheme cardinal. Making use of this result, one can also show that a theory $B_0(V_0)$ described in a previous paper of Victoria Marshall implies the existence of a Vopěnka scheme cardinal $κ…
Assuming the existence of a proper class of supercompact cardinals, we force that for every regular cardinal $κ$, there are $κ^+$-Aronszajn trees and all such trees are special.
Assuming $κ$ is a supercompact cardinal and $λ$ is an inaccessible cardinal above it, we present an idea due to Magidor, to find a generic extension in which $κ=\aleph_ω$ and $λ=\aleph_{ω+1}.$
Assuming the existence of a supercompact cardinal, we construct a model where, for some uncountable regular cardinal $κ$, there are no $Σ^1_1(κ)-κ-$mad families.
In this paper, we characterize the possible cofinalities of the least $λ$-strongly compact cardinal. We show that, on the one hand, for any regular cardinal, $δ$, that carries a $λ$-complete uniform ultrafilter, it is consistent, relative to the existence of a supercompact cardinal above $δ$, that the least $λ$-strongly compact cardinal has cofinality $δ$. On the other hand, provably the cofinality of the least $λ$-strongly compact cardinal always carries a $λ$-complete uniform ultrafilter.
This dissertation includes many theorems which show how to change large cardinal properties with forcing. I consider in detail the degrees of inaccessible cardinals (an analogue of the classical degrees of Mahlo cardinals) and provide new large cardinal definitions for degrees of inaccessible cardinals extending the hyper-inaccessible hierarchy. I showed that for every cardinal $κ$, and ordinal $α$, if $κ$ is $α$-inaccerssible, then there is a $\mathbb{P}$ forcing that $κ$ which preserves that $α$-inaccessible but destorys that $κ$ is $(α+1)$-inaccessible. I also consider Mahlo cardinals and d…
Assuming the existence of a supercompact cardinal and an inaccessible above it, we construct a model of ZFC, in which all uncountable regular cardinals are inaccessible in HOD.
It is proved to be consistent relative to a measurable cardinal that there is a uniform ultrafilter on the real numbers which is generated by fewer than the maximum possible number of sets. It is also shown to be consistent relative to a supercompact cardinal that there is a uniform ultrafilter on ${\aleph}_{ω+1}$ which is generated by fewer than ${2}^{{\aleph}_{ω+1}}$ sets.
Starting from a stationary set of supercompact cardinals we find a generic extension in which the tree property holds at every regular cardinal between $\aleph_2$ and $\aleph_{ω^2}$.
We show, assuming the consistency of one measurable cardinal, that it is consistent for there to be exactly kappa+ many normal measures on the least measurable cardinal kappa. This answers a question of Stewart Baldwin. The methods generalize to higher cardinals, showing that the number of lambda strong compactness or lambda supercompactness measures on P_kappa(lambda) can be exactly lambda+, if lambda>kappa is a regular cardinal. We conclude with a list of open questions. Our proofs use a critical observation due to James Cummings.
Under the assumption that $δ$ is a Woodin cardinal and $\GCH$ holds, I show that if $F$ is any class function from the regular cardinals to the cardinals such that (1) $κ<\cf(F(κ))$, (2) $κ<λ$ implies $F(κ)\leq F(λ)$, and (3) $δ$ is closed under $F$, then there is a cofinality-preserving forcing extension in which $2^γ= F(γ)$ for each regular cardinal $γ<δ$, and in which $δ$ remains Woodin. Unlike the analogous results for supercompact cardinals [Men76] and strong cardinals [FH08], there is no requirement that the function $F$ be locally definable.
The landmark Levy-Solovay Theorem limits the kind of large cardinal embeddings that can exist in a small forcing extension. Here I announce a generalization of this theorem to a broad new class of forcing notions. One consequence is that many of the forcing iterations most commonly found in the large cardinal literature create no new weakly compact cardinals, measurable cardinals, strong cardinals, Woodin cardinals, strongly compact cardinals, supercompact cardinals, almost huge cardinals, huge cardinals, and so on.
Starting from a supercompact cardinal we build a model in which $2^{\aleph_{ω_1}}=2^{\aleph_{ω_1+1}}=\aleph_{ω_1+3}$ but there is a jointly universal family of size $\aleph_{ω_1+2}$ of graphs on $\aleph_{ω_1+1}$. The same technique will work for any uncountable cardinal in place of $ω_1$.
We provide a model where u(κ) < 2^κ for a supercompact cardinal κ. Garti and Shelah have provided a sketch of how to obtain such a model by modifying the construction in a paper of Dzamonja and Shelah; we provide here a complete proof using a different modification and further study the values of other natural generalizations of classical cardinal characteristics in our model. For this purpose we generalize some standard facts that hold in the countable case as well as some classical forcing notions and their properties.
We recently formulated a new large-cardinal axiom of strength intermediate between a totally indescribable cardinal and an $ω$-Erdős cardinal, positing the existence of what we called an "extremely reflective cardinal", and we showed that the property of being extremely reflective was in fact equivalent to the property of being remarkable, and we sought to argue that this axiom should be seen as intrinsically justified. This built on related earlier work in which the notion of an $α$-reflective cardinal was formulated. Then Welch and Roberts put forward a family of reflection principles, Welch…
We describe a framework for proving consistency results about singular cardinals of arbitrary cofinality and their successors. This framework allows the construction of models in which the Singular Cardinals Hypothesis fails at a singular cardinal of uncountable cofinality, while its successor enjoys various combinatorial properties. As a sample application, we prove the consistency (relative to that of ZFC plus a supercompact cardinal) of there being a strong limit singular cardinal $κ$ of uncountable cofinality where SCH fails and for which there is a collection of graphs on $κ^+$ whose size…
We show that it is consistent, relative to $ω$ many supercompact cardinals, that the super tree property holds at $\aleph_n$ for all $2 \leq n < ω$ but there are weak square and a very good scale at $\aleph_ω$.
