In the first part of this paper, we consider several natural axioms in urelement set theory, including the Collection Principle, the Reflection Principle, the Dependent Choice scheme and its generalizations, as well as other axioms specifically concerning urelements. We prove that these axioms form a hierarchy over $\text {ZFCU}_{\text {R}}$ (ZFC with urelements formulated with Replacement) in terms of direct implication. The second part of the paper studies forcing over countable transitive models of $\text {ZFU}_{\text {R}}$. We propose a new definition of ${\mathbb P}$-names to address an issue with the existing approach. We then prove the fundamental theorem of forcing with urelements regarding axiom preservation. Moreover, we show that forcing can destroy and recover certain axioms within the previously established hierarchy. Finally, we demonstrate how ground model definability may fail when the ground model contains a proper class of urelements.

We characterize Borel line graphs in terms of 10 forbidden induced subgraphs, namely the nine finite graphs from the classical result of Beineke together with a 10th infinite graph associated with the equivalence relation $\mathbb {E}_0$ on the Cantor space. As a corollary, we prove a partial converse to the Feldman–Moore theorem, which allows us to characterize all locally countable Borel line graphs in terms of their Borel chromatic numbers.

All spaces are assumed to be Tychonoff. Given a realcompact space X, we denote by $\mathsf {Exp}(X)$ the smallest infinite cardinal $\kappa $ such that X is homeomorphic to a closed subspace of $\mathbb {R}^\kappa $. Our main result shows that, given a cardinal $\kappa $, the following conditions are equivalent:

• • There exists a countable crowded space X such that $\mathsf {Exp}(X)=\kappa $.

• • $\mathfrak {p}\leq \kappa \leq \mathfrak {c}$.

$\mathfrak {d}\leq \kappa \leq \mathfrak {c}$

$2^\kappa $

$\kappa $

$\kappa $

$\mathsf {Exp}(X)$

For a space X let $\mathcal {K}(X)$ be the set of compact subsets of X ordered by inclusion. A map $\phi :\mathcal {K}(X) \to \mathcal {K}(Y)$ is a relative Tukey quotient if it carries compact covers to compact covers. When there is such a Tukey quotient write $(X,\mathcal {K}(X)) \ge _T (Y,\mathcal {K}(Y))$, and write $(X,\mathcal {K}(X)) =_T (Y,\mathcal {K}(Y))$ if $(X,\mathcal {K}(X)) \ge _T (Y,\mathcal {K}(Y))$ and vice versa.

We investigate the initial structure of pairs $(X,\mathcal {K}(X))$ under the relative Tukey order, focussing on the case of separable metrizable spaces. Connections are made to Menger spaces.

Applications are given demonstrating the diversity of free topological groups, and related free objects, over separable metrizable spaces. It is shown a topological group G has the countable chain condition if it is either $\sigma $-pseudocompact or for some separable metrizable M, we have $\mathcal {K}(M) \ge _T (G,\mathcal {K}(G))$.

This is the second installment in a series of papers applying descriptive set theoretic techniques to both analyze and enrich classical functors from homological algebra and algebraic topology. In it, we show that the Čech cohomology functors on the category of locally compact separable metric spaces each factor into (i) what we term their definable version, a functor taking values in the category $\mathsf {GPC}$ of groups with a Polish cover (a category first introduced in this work’s predecessor), followed by (ii) a forgetful functor from $\mathsf {GPC}$ to the category of groups. These definable cohomology functors powerfully refine their classical counterparts: we show that they are complete invariants, for example, of the homotopy types of mapping telescopes of d-spheres or d-tori for any $d\geq 1$, and, in contrast, that there exist uncountable families of pairwise homotopy inequivalent mapping telescopes of either sort on which the classical cohomology functors are constant. We then apply the functors to show that a seminal problem in the development of algebraic topology – namely, Borsuk and Eilenberg’s 1936 problem of classifying, up to homotopy, the maps from a solenoid complement $S^3\backslash \Sigma $ to the $2$-sphere – is essentially hyperfinite but not smooth.

Fundamental to our analysis is the fact that the Čech cohomology functors admit two main formulations: a more combinatorial one and a more homotopical formulation as the group $[X,P]$ of homotopy classes of maps from X to a polyhedral $K(G,n)$ space P. We describe the Borel-definable content of each of these formulations and prove a definable version of Huber’s theorem reconciling the two. In the course of this work, we record definable versions of Urysohn’s Lemma and the simplicial approximation and homotopy extension theorems, along with a definable Milnor-type short exact sequence decomposition of the space $\mathrm {Map}(X,P)$ in terms of its subset of phantom maps; relatedly, we provide a topological characterization of this set for any locally compact Polish space X and polyhedron P. In aggregate, this work may be more broadly construed as laying foundations for the descriptive set theoretic study of the homotopy relation on such spaces $\mathrm {Map}(X,P)$, a relation which, together with the more combinatorial incarnation of , embodies a substantial variety of classification problems arising throughout mathematics. We show, in particular, that if P is a polyhedral H-group, then this relation is both Borel and idealistic. In consequence, $[X,P]$ falls in the category of definable groups, an extension of the category $\mathsf {GPC}$ introduced herein for its regularity properties, which facilitate several of the aforementioned computations.

This thesis is divided into three parts, the first and second ones focused on combinatorics and classification problems on discrete and geometrical objects in the context of descriptive set theory, and the third one on generalized descriptive set theory at singular cardinals of countable cofinality.

Descriptive Set Theory (briefly: DST) is the study of definable subsets of Polish spaces, i.e., separable completely metrizable spaces. One of the major branches of DST is Borel reducibility, successfully used in the last 30 years to solve and compare many classification problems. One of our goals is the classification of knots, very familiar and tangible objects in everyday life, which also play an important role in modern mathematics. The study of knots and their properties is known as knot theory. Our plan is to gain insight into knots using discrete objects, such as linear and circular orders. This approach was already exploited in [6]. The first part of this work is therefore devoted to countable linear orders and the study of the quasi-order of convex embeddability and its induced equivalence relation. We obtain both combinatorial and descriptive set-theoretic results. We also expand our research to the case of circular orders.

Another objective of this first part is to extend the notion of convex embeddability on countable linear orders. We provide a family of quasi-orders of which embeddability is a particular case as well. We study these quasi-orders from a combinatorial point of view and analyse their complexity with respect to Borel reducibility. Furthermore, we extend the analysis of these quasi-orders to the set of uncountable linear orders.

The second part of the project deals with classification problems on knots and $3$-manifolds. The goal here is to apply the results obtained in the first part to the study of proper arcs and knots, establishing lower bounds for the complexity of some natural relations between these geometrical objects. We also obtain some combinatorial results which are particularly interesting when we restrict to the set of wild proper arcs and wild knots, classes which haven’t received much attention so far. These parts are included in the two preprints [4, 5] in collaboration with my supervisor Alberto Marcone, Luca Motto Ros (University of Torino), and Vadim Weinstein (University of Oulu).

The second part of this work also includes the classification of non-compact $3$-manifolds up to homeomorphism (the case of compact $3$-manifolds has already been solved: indeed, there are only countably many $3$-manifolds up to homeomorphism; see [7]), and that of Cantor sets of $\mathbb {R}^3$ up to conjugation (answering to Question 5.5 of [3]). Here we resort to algebraic tools. Stone duality gives a neat way to go back-and-forth between totally disconnected Polish spaces and countable Boolean algebras (see [1]). The main ingredient is the Stone space of all ultrafilters on a Boolean algebra. In this work we introduce a weaker concept which we call “blurry filter”. Using blurry filters instead of ultrafilters enables one to extend the class of spaces under consideration beyond totally disconnected. As an application of this method, we show that both homeomorphism on non-compact $3$-manifolds and conjugation of Cantor sets in $\mathbb {R}^3$ are completely classifiable by countable structures. These results are part of an upcoming paper in collaboration with Vadim Weinstein.

The last part of this thesis concerns the natural generalization of descriptive set theory that occurs when countable is replaced by uncountable, called Generalized Descriptive Set Theory (briefly: GDST). In particular, we focus on the case of GDST for a singular cardinal $\kappa $ of countable cofinality. The goal here is to study the generalizations of the Perfect Set Property and the Baire Property to subsets of spaces of higher cardinalities, like the power set $\mathcal {P}(\kappa )$. We consider the question under which large cardinal hypotheses classes of definable subsets of these spaces possess such regularity properties, focusing on rank-into-rank axioms, like I2, and classes of sets definable by $\Sigma _1$-formulas with parameters from various collections of sets. The obtained results are included in [2], a joint work with my co-supervisor Vincenzo Dimonte and Philipp Lücke (University of Hamburg).

Abstract prepared by Martina Iannella

E-mail: martina.iannella@tuwien.ac.at.

URL: https://air.uniud.it/handle/11390/1262824.

In this thesis, we study the complexity of some mathematical problems: in particular, those arising in computable analysis and algorithmic learning theory for algebraic structures. Our study is not limited to these two areas: indeed, in both cases, the results we obtain are tightly connected to ideas and tools coming from different areas of mathematical logic, including for example descriptive set theory and reverse mathematics.

After giving the necessary preliminaries, we first study the uniform computational strength of the Cantor–Bendixson theorem in the Weihrauch lattice. This work falls into the program connecting reverse mathematics and computable analysis via the framework of Weihrauch reducibility. We concentrate on problems related to perfect subsets of Polish spaces, studying the perfect set theorem, the Cantor–Bendixson theorem, and various problems arising from them. As far as we know, this is the first systematic study of problems at the level of $\mathbf {\Pi }^1_1\mathsf {-CA}_0$ in the Weihrauch lattice. We show that the strength of some of the problems we study depends on the topological properties of the Polish space under consideration, while others have the same strength once the space is rich enough.

We continue considering problems related to (induced) subgraphs. We provide results on the (effective) Wadge complexity of sets of graphs, that are also used to determine the Weihrauch degree of certain decision problems. The decision problems we consider are defined for a fixed graph G, and they take as input a graph H, answering whether G is an (induced) subgraph of H: we also consider the opposite problem (i.e., answering whether H is an induced subgraph of G). We conclude this part on (induced) subgraphs considering the Weihrauch degree of “search problems.”These problems are defined for a fixed graph G, and they take as input a graph H such that G is an (induced) subgraph H: the output is a copy of G in H. In both cases, we highlight differences and analogies between the subgraph and the induced subgraph relation.

We then move our attention to algorithmic learning theory, and we present the framework we use to study the learnability of families of algebraic structures: here, given a countable family of pairwise nonisomorphic structures $\mathfrak {K}$, a learner receives larger and larger pieces of an arbitrary copy of a structure in $\mathfrak {K}$ and, at each stage, is required to output a conjecture about the isomorphism type of such a structure. We say that $\mathfrak {K}$ is learnable if there exists a learner which eventually stabilizes to a correct guess. The framework was lacking a method for comparing the complexity of nonlearnable families, and so we propose a solution to this problem using tools coming from invariant descriptive set theory. To do so, we first prove that a family of structures is learnable if and only if its learning domain is continuously reducible to the relation $E_0$ of eventual agreement on infinite binary sequences and then, replacing $E_0$ with Borel equivalence relations of higher complexity, we obtain a new hierarchy of learning problems. This leads to the notion of E-learnability, where a family of structures $\mathfrak {K}$ is E-learnable, for a Borel equivalence relation E, if there is a continuous reduction from the isomorphism relation associated with $\mathfrak {K}$ to E. It is then natural to ask how the notion of E-learnability interacts with “classical” learning paradigms.

Finally, we study the number of mind changes that a learner needs to learn a given family, both from a topological and a combinatorial point of view, and we consider how the complexity of a learner (in terms of Turing reducibility) affects the number of mind changes for learning a given family.

Abstract prepared by Vittorio Cipriani.

E-mail: vittorio.cipriani17@gmail.com.

URL: https://air.uniud.it/handle/11390/1252226.

We continue the study of the Galvin property from Benhamou, Garti, and Shelah (2023, Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society 151, 1301–1309) and Benhamou (2023, Saturation properties in canonical inner models, submitted). In particular, we deepen the connection between certain diamond-like principles and non-Galvin ultrafilters. We also show that any Dodd sound non p-point ultrafilter is non-Galvin. We use these ideas to formulate what appears to be the optimal large cardinal hypothesis implying the existence of a non-Galvin ultrafilter, improving on a result from Benhamou and Dobrinen (2023, Journal of Symbolic Logic, 1–34). Finally, we use a strengthening of the Ultrapower Axiom to prove that in all the known canonical inner models, a $\kappa $-complete ultrafilter has the Galvin property if and only if it is an iterated sum of p-points.

The property of countable metacompactness of a topological space gets its importance from Dowker’s 1951 theorem that the product of a normal space X with the unit interval $[0,1]$ is again normal iff X is countably metacompact. In a recent paper, Leiderman and Szeptycki studied $\Delta $-spaces, which is a superclass of the class of countably metacompact spaces. They proved that a single Cohen real introduces a ladder system $ L$ over the first uncountable cardinal for which the corresponding space $X_{ L}$ is not a $\Delta $-space, and asked whether there is a ZFC example of a ladder system $ L$ over some cardinal $\kappa $ for which $X_{ L}$ is not countably metacompact, in particular, not a $\Delta $-space. We prove that an affirmative answer holds for the cardinal $\kappa =\operatorname {\mathrm {cf}}(\beth _{\omega +1})$. Assuming $\beth _\omega =\aleph _\omega $, we get an example at a much lower cardinal, namely $\kappa =2^{2^{2^{\aleph _0}}}$, and our ladder system L is moreover $\omega $-bounded.

We investigate the statement “all automorphisms of ${\mathcal {P}}(\lambda )/[\lambda ]^{<\lambda }$ are trivial.” We show that MA implies the statement for regular uncountable $\lambda <2^{\aleph _0}$, that the statement is false for measurable $\lambda $ if $2^\lambda =\lambda ^+$, and that for “densely trivial” it can be forced (together with $2^\lambda =\lambda ^{++}$) for inaccessible $\lambda $.

We introduce new types of examples of bounded degree acyclic Borel graphs and study their combinatorial properties in the context of descriptive combinatorics, using a generalization of the determinacy method of Marks [Mar16]. The motivation for the construction comes from the adaptation of this method to the $\mathsf {LOCAL}$ model of distributed computing [BCG+21]. Our approach unifies the previous results in the area, as well as produces new ones. In particular, strengthening the main result of [TV21], we show that for $\Delta>2$, it is impossible to give a simple characterization of acyclic $\Delta $-regular Borel graphs with Borel chromatic number at most $\Delta $: such graphs form a $\mathbf {\Sigma }^1_2$-complete set. This implies a strong failure of Brooks-like theorems in the Borel context.

For $\kappa $ a regular uncountable cardinal, we show that distributivity and base trees for $P(\kappa )/{<}\kappa $ of intermediate height in the cardinal interval $[\omega , \kappa )$ exist in certain models. We also show that base trees of height $\kappa $ can exist as well as base trees of various heights $\geq \kappa ^+$ depending on the spectrum of cardinalities of towers in $P(\kappa )/{<}\kappa $.

The axiom of dependent choice ($\mathsf {DC}$) and the axiom of countable choice (${\mathsf {AC}}_\omega $) are two weak forms of the axiom of choice that can be stated for a specific set: $\mathsf {DC} ( X )$ asserts that any total binary relation on X has an infinite chain, while ${\mathsf {AC}}_\omega ( X )$ asserts that any countable collection of nonempty subsets of X has a choice function. It is well-known that $\mathsf {DC} \Rightarrow {\mathsf {AC}}_\omega $. We study for which sets and under which hypotheses $\mathsf {DC} ( X ) \Rightarrow {\mathsf {AC}}_\omega ( X )$, and then we show it is consistent with $\mathsf {ZF}$ that there is a set $A \subseteq \mathbb {R}$ for which $\mathsf {DC} ( A )$ holds, but ${\mathsf {AC}}_\omega ( A )$ fails.

Let M be a short extender mouse. We prove that if $E\in M$ and $M\models $“E is a countably complete short extender whose support is a cardinal $\theta $ and $\mathcal {H}_\theta \subseteq \mathrm {Ult}(V,E)$”, then E is in the extender sequence $\mathbb {E}^M$ of M. We also prove other related facts, and use them to establish that if $\kappa $ is an uncountable cardinal of M and $\kappa ^{+M}$ exists in M then $(\mathcal {H}_{\kappa ^+})^M$ satisfies the Axiom of Global Choice. We prove that if M satisfies the Power Set Axiom then $\mathbb {E}^M$ is definable over the universe of M from the parameter $X=\mathbb {E}^M\!\upharpoonright \!\aleph _1^M$, and M satisfies “Every set is $\mathrm {OD}_{\{X\}}$”. We also prove various local versions of this fact in which M has a largest cardinal, and a version for generic extensions of M. As a consequence, for example, the minimal proper class mouse with a Woodin limit of Woodin cardinals models “$V=\mathrm {HOD}$”. This adapts to many other similar examples. We also describe a simplified approach to Mitchell–Steel fine structure, which does away with the parameters $u_n$.

Assume that M is a transitive model of $ZFC+CH$ containing a simplified $(\omega _1,2)$-morass, $P\in M$ is the poset adding $\aleph _3$ generic reals and G is P-generic over M. In M we construct a function between sets of terms in the forcing language, that interpreted in $M[G]$ is an $\mathbb R$-linear order-preserving monomorphism from the finite elements of an ultrapower of the reals, over a non-principal ultrafilter on $\omega $, into the Esterle algebra of formal power series. Therefore it is consistent that $2^{\aleph _0}>\aleph _2$ and, for any infinite compact Hausdorff space X, there exists a discontinuous homomorphism of $C(X)$, the algebra of continuous real-valued functions on X.

We present the true stages machinery and illustrate its applications to descriptive set theory. We use this machinery to provide new proofs of the Hausdorff–Kuratowski and Wadge theorems on the structure of $\mathbf {\Delta }^0_\xi $, Louveau and Saint Raymond’s separation theorem, and Louveau’s separation theorem.

A partition is finitary if all its members are finite. For a set A, $\mathscr {B}(A)$ denotes the set of all finitary partitions of A. It is shown consistent with $\mathsf {ZF}$ (without the axiom of choice) that there exist an infinite set A and a surjection from A onto $\mathscr {B}(A)$. On the other hand, we prove in $\mathsf {ZF}$ some theorems concerning $\mathscr {B}(A)$ for infinite sets A, among which are the following:

1. (1) If there is a finitary partition of A without singleton blocks, then there are no surjections from A onto $\mathscr {B}(A)$ and no finite-to-one functions from $\mathscr {B}(A)$ to A.

2. (2) For all $n\in \omega $, $|A^n|<|\mathscr {B}(A)|$.

3. (3) $|\mathscr {B}(A)|\neq |\mathrm {seq}(A)|$, where $\mathrm {seq}(A)$ is the set of all finite sequences of elements of A.

Consider a variant of the usual story about the iterative conception of sets. As usual, at every stage, you find all the (bland) sets of objects which you found earlier. But you also find the result of tapping any earlier-found object with any magic wand (from a given stock of magic wands).

By varying the number and behaviour of the wands, we can flesh out this idea in many different ways. This paper's main Theorem is that any loosely constructive way of fleshing out this idea is synonymous with a ZF-like theory.

This Theorem has rich applications; it realizes John Conway's (1976) Mathematicians' Liberation Movement; and it connects with a lovely idea due to Alonzo Church (1974).

We extend the Becker–Kechris topological realization and change-of-topology theorems for Polish group actions in several directions. For Polish group actions, we prove a single result that implies the original Becker–Kechris theorems, as well as Sami’s and Hjorth’s sharpenings adapted levelwise to the Borel hierarchy; automatic continuity of Borel actions via homeomorphisms and the equivalence of ‘potentially open’ versus ‘orbitwise open’ Borel sets. We also characterize ‘potentially open’ n-ary relations, thus yielding a topological realization theorem for invariant Borel first-order structures. We then generalize to groupoid actions and prove a result subsuming Lupini’s Becker–Kechris-type theorems for open Polish groupoids, newly adapted to the Borel hierarchy, as well as topological realizations of actions on fiberwise topological bundles and bundles of first-order structures.

Our proof method is new even in the classical case of Polish groups and is based entirely on formal algebraic properties of category quantifiers; in particular, we make no use of either metrizability or the strong Choquet game. Consequently, our proofs work equally well in the non-Hausdorff context, for open quasi-Polish groupoids and more generally in the point-free context, for open localic groupoids.

We introduce a natural two-cardinal version of Bagaria’s sequence of derived topologies on ordinals. We prove that for our sequence of two-cardinal derived topologies, limit points of sets can be characterized in terms of a new iterated form of pairwise simultaneous reflection of certain kinds of stationary sets, the first few instances of which are often equivalent to notions related to strong stationarity, which has been studied previously in the context of strongly normal ideals. The non-discreteness of these two-cardinal derived topologies can be obtained from certain two-cardinal indescribability hypotheses, which follow from local instances of supercompactness. Additionally, we answer several questions posed by the first author, Holy and White on the relationship between Ramseyness and indescribability in both the cardinal context and in the two-cardinal context.