Tameness from two successive good frames

We show, assuming a mild set-theoretic hypothesis, that if an abstract elementary class (AEC) has a superstable-like forking notion for models of cardinality $\lambda$ and a superstable-like forking notion for models of cardinality $\lambda^+$, then orbital types over models of cardinality $\lambda^+$ are determined by their restrictions to submodels of cardinality $\lambda$. By a superstable-like forking notion, we mean here a good frame, a central concept of Shelah's book on AECs. It is known that locality of orbital types together with the existence of a superstable-like notion for models of cardinality $\lambda$ implies the existence of a superstable-like notion for models of cardinality $\lambda^+$, but here we prove the converse. An immediate consequence is that forking in $\lambda^+$ can be described in terms of forking in $\lambda$.Comment: 27 page

Forking and superstability in tame AECs

We prove that any tame abstract elementary class categorical in a suitable cardinal has an eventually global good frame: a forking-like notion defined on all types of single elements. This gives the first known general construction of a good frame in ZFC. We show that we already obtain a well-behaved independence relation assuming only a superstability-like hypothesis instead of categoricity. These methods are applied to obtain an upward stability transfer theorem from categoricity and tameness, as well as new conditions for uniqueness of limit models.Comment: 33 page

Downward categoricity from a successor inside a good frame

We use orthogonality calculus to prove a downward transfer from categoricity in a successor in abstract elementary classes (AECs) that have a good frame (a forking-like notion for types of singletons) on an interval of cardinals: $\mathbf{Theorem}$ Let $K$ be an AEC and let $\text{LS} (K) \le \lambda < \theta$ be cardinals. If $K$ has a type-full good $[\lambda, \theta]$-frame and $K$ is categorical in both $\lambda$ and $\theta^+$, then $K$ is categorical in all $\lambda' \in [\lambda, \theta]$. We deduce improvements on the threshold of several categoricity transfers that do not mention frames. For example, the threshold in Shelah's transfer can be improved from $\beth_{\beth_{\left(2^{\text{LS} (K)}\right)^+}}$ to $\beth_{\left(2^{\text{LS} (K)}\right)^+}$ assuming that the AEC is $\text{LS} (K)$-tame. The successor hypothesis can also be removed from Shelah's result by assuming in addition either that the AEC has primes over sets of the form $M \cup \{a\}$ or (using an unpublished claim of Shelah) that the weak generalized continuum hypothesis holds.Comment: 63 pages. Was previously named "A downward categoricity transfer for tame abstract elementary classes

Shelah's eventual categoricity conjecture in universal classes: part I

We prove: $\mathbf{Theorem}$ Let $K$ be a universal class. If $K$ is categorical in cardinals of arbitrarily high cofinality, then $K$ is categorical on a tail of cardinals. The proof stems from ideas of Adi Jarden and Will Boney, and also relies on a deep result of Shelah. As opposed to previous works, the argument is in ZFC and does not use the assumption of categoricity in a successor cardinal. The argument generalizes to abstract elementary classes (AECs) that satisfy a locality property and where certain prime models exist. Moreover assuming amalgamation we can give an explicit bound on the Hanf number and get rid of the cofinality restrictions: $\mathbf{Theorem}$ Let $K$ be an AEC with amalgamation. Assume that $K$ is fully $\operatorname{LS} (K)$-tame and short and has primes over sets of the form $M \cup \{a\}$. Write $H_2 := \beth_{\left(2^{\beth_{\left(2^{\operatorname{LS} (K)}\right)^+}}\right)^+}$. If $K$ is categorical in a $\lambda > H_2$, then $K$ is categorical in all $\lambda' \ge H_2$.Comment: 51 page

On categoricity in successive cardinals

We investigate, in ZFC, the behavior of abstract elementary classes (AECs) categorical in many successive small cardinals. We prove for example that a universal $\mathbb{L}_{\omega_1, \omega}$ sentence categorical on an end segment of cardinals below $\beth_\omega$ must be categorical also everywhere above $\beth_\omega$. This is done without any additional model-theoretic hypotheses (such as amalgamation or arbitrarily large models) and generalizes to the much broader framework of tame AECs with weak amalgamation and coherent sequences.Comment: 19 page

Shelah's eventual categoricity conjecture in tame AECs with primes

A new case of Shelah's eventual categoricity conjecture is established: $\mathbf{Theorem}$ Let $K$ be an AEC with amalgamation. Write $H_2 := \beth_{\left(2^{\beth_{\left(2^{\text{LS} (K)}\right)^+}}\right)^+}$. Assume that $K$ is $H_2$-tame and $K_{\ge H_2}$ has primes over sets of the form $M \cup \{a\}$. If $K$ is categorical in some $\lambda > H_2$, then $K$ is categorical in all $\lambda' \ge H_2$. The result had previously been established when the stronger locality assumptions of full tameness and shortness are also required. An application of the method of proof of the theorem is that Shelah's categoricity conjecture holds in the context of homogeneous model theory (this was known, but our proof gives new cases): $\mathbf{Theorem}$ Let $D$ be a homogeneous diagram in a first-order theory $T$. If $D$ is categorical in a $\lambda > |T|$, then $D$ is categorical in all $\lambda' \ge \min (\lambda, \beth_{(2^{|T|})^+})$.Comment: 16 pages. Generalizes arXiv:1506.0702

Saturation and solvability in abstract elementary classes with amalgamation

$\mathbf{Theorem.}$ Let $K$ be an abstract elementary class (AEC) with amalgamation and no maximal models. Let $\lambda > \text{LS} (K)$. If $K$ is categorical in $\lambda$, then the model of cardinality $\lambda$ is Galois-saturated. This answers a question asked independently by Baldwin and Shelah. We deduce several corollaries: $K$ has a unique limit model in each cardinal below $\lambda$, (when $\lambda$ is big-enough) $K$ is weakly tame below $\lambda$, and the thresholds of several existing categoricity transfers can be improved. We also prove a downward transfer of solvability (a version of superstability introduced by Shelah): $\mathbf{Corollary.}$ Let $K$ be an AEC with amalgamation and no maximal models. Let $\lambda > \mu > \text{LS} (K)$. If $K$ is solvable in $\lambda$, then $K$ is solvable in $\mu$.Comment: 19 page

Indiscernible extraction and Morley sequences

We present a new proof of the existence of Morley sequences in simple theories. We avoid using the Erd\H{o}s-Rado theorem and instead use only Ramsey's theorem and compactness. The proof shows that the basic theory of forking in simple theories can be developed using only principles from "ordinary mathematics", answering a question of Grossberg, Iovino and Lessmann, as well as a question of Baldwin.Comment: Shortened to 6 page

Infinitary stability theory

We introduce a new device in the study of abstract elementary classes (AECs): Galois Morleyization, which consists in expanding the models of the class with a relation for every Galois type of length less than a fixed cardinal $\kappa$. We show: $\mathbf{Theorem}$ (The semantic-syntactic correspondence) An AEC $K$ is fully $(<\kappa)$-tame and type short if and only if Galois types are syntactic in the Galois Morleyization. This exhibits a correspondence between AECs and the syntactic framework of stability theory inside a model. We use the correspondence to make progress on the stability theory of tame and type short AECs. The main theorems are: $\mathbf{Theorem}$ Let $K$ be a $\text{LS}(K)$-tame AEC with amalgamation. The following are equivalent: * $K$ is Galois stable in some $\lambda \ge \text{LS}(K)$. * $K$ does not have the order property (defined in terms of Galois types). * There exist cardinals $\mu$ and $\lambda_0$ with $\mu \le \lambda_0 < \beth_{(2^{\text{LS}(K)})^+}$ such that $K$ is Galois stable in any $\lambda \ge \lambda_0$ with $\lambda = \lambda^{<\mu}$. $\mathbf{Theorem}$ Let $K$ be a fully $(<\kappa)$-tame and type short AEC with amalgamation, $\kappa = \beth_{\kappa} > \text{LS} (K)$. If $K$ is Galois stable, then the class of $\kappa$-Galois saturated models of $K$ admits an independence notion ($(<\kappa)$-coheir) which, except perhaps for extension, has the properties of forking in a first-order stable theory.Comment: 34 pages (v1 was split into this paper and arXiv:1503.01366

The lazy model theoretician's guide to Shelah's eventual categoricity conjecture in universal classes

We give a short overview of the proof of Shelah's eventual categoricity conjecture in universal classes with amalgamation in arXiv:1506.07024 .Comment: 6 page