Ladder system uniformization on trees I & II

Given a tree $T$ of height $\omega_1$, we say that a ladder system colouring $(f_\alpha)_{\alpha\in \lim\omega_1}$ has a $T$-uniformization if there is a function $\varphi$ defined on a subtree $S$ of $T$ so that for any $s\in S_\alpha$ of limit height and almost all $\xi\in {dom} (f_\alpha)$, $\varphi(s\upharpoonright \xi)=f_\alpha(\xi)$. In sharp contrast to the classical theory of uniformizations on $\omega_1$, J. Moore proved that CH is consistent with the statement that any ladder system colouring has a $T$-uniformization (for any Aronszajn tree $T$). Our goal is to present a fine analysis of ladder system uniformization on trees pointing out the analogies and differences between the classical and this new theory. We show that if $S$ is a Suslin tree then (i) CH implies that there is a ladder system colouring without $S$-uniformization; (ii) the restricted forcing axiom $MA(S)$ implies that any ladder system colouring has an $\omega_1$-uniformization. For an arbitrary Aronszajn tree $T$, we show how diamond-type assumptions affect the existence of ladder system colourings without a $T$-uniformization. Furthermore, it is consistent that for any Aronszajn tree $T$ and ladder system $\mathbf C$ there is a colouring of $\mathbf C$ without a $T$-uniformization; however, and quite surprisingly, $\diamondsuit^+$ implies that for any ladder system $\mathbf C$ there is an Aronszajn tree $T$ so that any monochromatic colouring of $\mathbf C$ has a $T$-uniformization. We also prove positive uniformization results in ZFC for some well-studied trees of size continuum, and finish with a list of open problems.Comment: Revised version with improved presentation and updated problem list; 30 pages and 2 figures; submitted for publicatio

Uncountable strongly surjective linear orders

A linear order $L$ is strongly surjective if $L$ can be mapped onto any of its suborders in an order preserving way. We prove various results on the existence and non-existence of uncountable strongly surjective linear orders answering questions of Camerlo, Carroy and Marcone. In particular, $\diamondsuit^+$ implies the existence of a lexicographically ordered Suslin-tree which is strongly surjective and minimal; every strongly surjective linear order must be an Aronszajn type under $2^{\aleph_0}<2^{\aleph_1}$ or in the Cohen and other canonical models (where $2^{\aleph_0}=2^{\aleph_1}$); finally, we prove that it is consistent with CH that there are no uncountable strongly surjective linear orders at all. We end the paper with a healthy list of open problems.Comment: 21 pages, revised version; to appear in Order; comments are very welcom

Laver and set theory

In this commemorative article, the work of Richard Laver is surveyed in its full range and extent.Accepted manuscrip

Hausdorff gaps and towers in P(\omega)/Fin

We define and study two classes of uncountable $\subseteq^*$-chains: Hausdorff towers and Suslin towers. We discuss their existence in various models of set theory. Then, some of the results and methods are used to provide examples of indestructible gaps not equivalent to a Hausdorff gap. Also, we indicate possible ways of developing a structure theory for towers.Comment: 34 page

Rethinking the notion of oracle: A link between synthetic descriptive set theory and effective topos theory

We present three different perspectives of oracle. First, an oracle is a blackbox; second, an oracle is an endofunctor on the category of represented spaces; and third, an oracle is an operation on the object of truth-values. These three perspectives create a link between the three fields, computability theory, synthetic descriptive set theory, and effective topos theory