Splitting finite antichains in the homomorphism order

A structural condition is given for finite maximal antichains in the homomorphism order of relational structures to have the splitting property. It turns out that non-splitting antichains appear only at the bottom of the order. Moreover, we examine looseness and finite antichain extension property for some subclasses of the homomorphism poset. Finally, we take a look at cut-points in this order

Dualities and dual pairs in Heyting algebras

We extract the abstract core of finite homomorphism dualities using the techniques of Heyting algebras and (combinatorial) categories.Comment: 17 pages; v2: minor correction

The Ramsey Theory of Henson graphs

Analogues of Ramsey's Theorem for infinite structures such as the rationals or the Rado graph have been known for some time. In this context, one looks for optimal bounds, called degrees, for the number of colors in an isomorphic substructure rather than one color, as that is often impossible. Such theorems for Henson graphs however remained elusive, due to lack of techniques for handling forbidden cliques. Building on the author's recent result for the triangle-free Henson graph, we prove that for each $k\ge 4$, the $k$-clique-free Henson graph has finite big Ramsey degrees, the appropriate analogue of Ramsey's Theorem. We develop a method for coding copies of Henson graphs into a new class of trees, called strong coding trees, and prove Ramsey theorems for these trees which are applied to deduce finite big Ramsey degrees. The approach here provides a general methodology opening further study of big Ramsey degrees for ultrahomogeneous structures. The results have bearing on topological dynamics via work of Kechris, Pestov, and Todorcevic and of Zucker.Comment: 75 pages. Substantial revisions in the presentation. Submitte

A Special Class of Almost Disjoint Families

The collection of branches (maximal linearly ordered sets of nodes) of the tree ${}^{<\omega}\omega$ (ordered by inclusion) forms an almost disjoint family (of sets of nodes). This family is not maximal -- for example, any level of the tree is almost disjoint from all of the branches. How many sets must be added to the family of branches to make it maximal? This question leads to a series of definitions and results: a set of nodes is {\it off-branch} if it is almost disjoint from every branch in the tree; an {\it off-branch family} is an almost disjoint family of off-branch sets; {\frak o}=\min\{|{\Cal O}|: {\Cal O} is a maximal off-branch family$\}$. Results concerning $\frak o$ include: (in ZFC) ${\frak a}\leq{\frak o}$, and (consistent with ZFC) $\frak o$ is not equal to any of the standard small cardinal invariants $\frak b$, $\frak a$, $\frak d$, or ${\frak c}=2^\omega$. Most of these consistency results use standard forcing notions -- for example, $Con({\frak b}={\frak a}<{\frak o}={\frak d}={\frak c})$ comes from starting with a model of $ZFC+CH$ and adding $\omega_2$-many Cohen reals. Many interesting open questions remain, though -- for example, $Con({\frak o}<{\frak d})$

Saccharinity

We present a method to iterate finitely splitting lim-sup tree forcings along non-wellfounded linear orders. We apply this method to construct a forcing (without using an inaccessible or amalgamation) that makes all definable sets of reals measurable with respect to a certain (non-ccc) ideal

Generic Large Cardinals and Systems of Filters

We introduce the notion of $\mathcal{C}$-system of filters, generalizing the standard definitions of both extenders and towers of normal ideals. This provides a framework to develop the theory of extenders and towers in a more general and concise way. In this framework we investigate the topic of definability of generic large cardinals properties.Comment: 36 page

Chains, Antichains, and Complements in Infinite Partition Lattices

We consider the partition lattice $\Pi_\kappa$ on any set of transfinite cardinality $\kappa$ and properties of $\Pi_\kappa$ whose analogues do not hold for finite cardinalities. Assuming the Axiom of Choice we prove: (I) the cardinality of any maximal well-ordered chain is always exactly $\kappa$; (II) there are maximal chains in $\Pi_\kappa$ of cardinality $> \kappa$; (III) if, for every cardinal $\lambda < \kappa$, we have $2^{\lambda} < 2^\kappa$, there exists a maximal chain of cardinality $< 2^{\kappa}$ (but $\ge \kappa$) in $\Pi_{2^\kappa}$; (IV) every non-trivial maximal antichain in $\Pi_\kappa$ has cardinality between $\kappa$ and $2^{\kappa}$, and these bounds are realized. Moreover we can construct maximal antichains of cardinality $\max(\kappa, 2^{\lambda})$ for any $\lambda \le \kappa$; (V) all cardinals of the form $\kappa^\lambda$ with $0 \le \lambda \le \kappa$ occur as the number of complements to some partition $\mathcal{P} \in \Pi_\kappa$, and only these cardinalities appear. Moreover, we give a direct formula for the number of complements to a given partition; (VI) Under the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis, the cardinalities of maximal chains, maximal antichains, and numbers of complements are fully determined, and we provide a complete characterization.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures. Submitted to Algebra Universalis on 27/11/201