Beginning of stability theory for Polish Spaces

We consider stability theory for Polish spaces and more generally for definable structures. We succeed to prove existence of indiscernibles under reasonable conditions

The ultrafilter number for singular cardinals

We prove the consistency of a singular cardinal $\lambda$ with small value of the ultrafilter number $u_\lambda$, and arbitrarily large value of $2^\lambda$.Comment: 8 page

Saturating the random graph with an independent family of small range

Motivated by Keisler's order, a far-reaching program of understanding basic model-theoretic structure through the lens of regular ultrapowers, we prove that for a class of regular filters $D$ on $I$, $|I| = \lambda > \aleph_0$, the fact that P(I)/\de has little freedom (as measured by the fact that any maximal antichain is of size $<\lambda$, or even countable) does not prevent extending $D$ to an ultrafilter $D_1$ on $I$ which saturates ultrapowers of the random graph. "Saturates" means that M^I/\de_1 is $\lambda^+$-saturated whenever M is a model of the theory of the random graph. This was known to be true for stable theories, and false for non-simple and non-low theories. This result and the techniques introduced in the proof have catalyzed the authors' subsequent work on Keisler's order for simple unstable theories. The introduction, which includes a part written for model theorists and a part written for set theorists, discusses our current program and related results.Comment: 14 page

Constructing regular ultrafilters from a model-theoretic point of view

This paper contributes to the set-theoretic side of understanding Keisler's order. We consider properties of ultrafilters which affect saturation of unstable theories: the lower cofinality \lcf(\aleph_0, \de) of $\aleph_0$ modulo \de, saturation of the minimum unstable theory (the random graph), flexibility, goodness, goodness for equality, and realization of symmetric cuts. We work in ZFC except when noted, as several constructions appeal to complete ultrafilters thus assume a measurable cardinal. The main results are as follows. First, we investigate the strength of flexibility, detected by non-low theories. Assuming $\kappa > \aleph_0$ is measurable, we construct a regular ultrafilter on $\lambda \geq 2^\kappa$ which is flexible (thus: ok) but not good, and which moreover has large \lcf(\aleph_0) but does not even saturate models of the random graph. We prove that there is a loss of saturation in regular ultrapowers of unstable theories, and give a new proof that there is a loss of saturation in ultrapowers of non-simple theories. Finally, we investigate realization and omission of symmetric cuts, significant both because of the maximality of the strict order property in Keisler's order, and by recent work of the authors on $SOP_2$. We prove that for any $n < \omega$, assuming the existence of $n$ measurable cardinals below $\lambda$, there is a regular ultrafilter $D$ on $\lambda$ such that any $D$-ultrapower of a model of linear order will have $n$ alternations of cuts, as defined below. Moreover, $D$ will $\lambda^+$-saturate all stable theories but will not $(2^{\kappa})^+$-saturate any unstable theory, where $\kappa$ is the smallest measurable cardinal used in the construction.Comment: 31 page

Existence of optimal ultrafilters and the fundamental complexity of simple theories

In the first edition of Classification Theory, the second author characterized the stable theories in terms of saturation of ultrapowers. Prior to this theorem, stability had already been defined in terms of counting types, and the unstable formula theorem was known. A contribution of the ultrapower characterization was that it involved sorting out the global theory, and introducing nonforking, seminal for the development of stability theory. Prior to the present paper, there had been no such characterization of an unstable class. In the present paper, we first establish the existence of so-called optimal ultrafilters on Boolean algebras, which are to simple theories as Keisler's good ultrafilters are to all theories. Then, assuming a supercompact cardinal, we characterize the simple theories in terms of saturation of ultrapowers. To do so, we lay the groundwork for analyzing the global structure of simple theories, in ZFC, via complexity of certain amalgamation patterns. This brings into focus a fundamental complexity in simple unstable theories having no real analogue in stability.Comment: The revisions aim to separate the set theoretic and model theoretic aspects of the paper to make it accessible to readers interested primarily in one side. We thank the anonymous referee for many thoughtful comment

On properties of theories which preclude the existence of universal models

We introduce the oak property of first order theories, which is a syntactical condition that we show to be sufficient for a theory not to have universal models in cardinality ? when certain cardinal arithmetic assumptions about ? implying the failure of GCH (and close to the failure of SCH) hold. We give two examples of theories that have the oak property and show that none of these examples satisfy SOP4, not even SOP3. This is related to the question of the connection of the property SOP4 to non-universality, as was raised by the earlier work of Shelah. One of our examples is the theory View the MathML source for which non-universality results similar to the ones we obtain are already known; hence we may view our results as an abstraction of the known results from a concrete theory to a class of theories. We show that no theory with the oak property is simple