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Math 6000: Model Theory, Spring 2014


Lecture Topics


Date
What we discussed/How we spent our time
Jan 13
Syllabus. Text. We discussed some definitions of "model theory", and then began discussing the Poincaré model of the hyperbolic plane.
Jan 15
We finished our very brief discussion of the interpretation of the hyperbolic plane into the Euclidean plane. The discussion informally introduced the model-theoretic words and notation: structure, (first-order) sentence, satisfaction, truth, (in)consistency, theory, $T\vdash \varphi$, interpretation, equiconsistency. We then worked on this exercise about modeling mathematical objects as structures. We ended with quick definitions of ordinals, function sets $A^B$, and relations.
Jan 17
We defined relations, predicates, functions and constants. Then we defined "signature", "structure (of a given signature)", and started on the definition of "language". We got through the alphabet of symbols and the recursive definition of "term", but got no further on the definition of "formula".
Jan 22
We stated the Recursion Theorem. We gave a recursive definition of "term" and compared it to the book's definition of "term". We discussed the unique readability of terms. We defined atomic formulas.
Jan 24
We finished the definition of "formula" and "sentence", discussed what "language" should mean, and indicated the recursive definitions of "subterm", "subformula", "free variable" and "quantifier rank". We practiced creating some sentences and formulas.
Jan 27
Given a $\sigma$-structure $\mathbf A$, a $\sigma$-formula $\varphi$ and a valuation $v\colon \{x_0,\ldots\}\to A$ we defined the meaning of $\mathbf A\models \varphi[v]$. We briefly discussed the term algebra and truth tables.
Jan 29
We proved the equivalence of some pairs of formulas; in particular, enough pairs to enable us to transform a formula into an equivalent one in prenex form.
Jan 31
We discussed the issues that must be considered when constructing a proof calculus that is sound, complete and effective. I circulated a document describing one such proof calculus.
Feb 3
We discussed: (i) why we define structures with relations, functions and constants, (ii) how to deal with multisorted structures, (iii) why the empty structure is a problem, and (iv) first-order logic versus second-order logic versus the infinitary logics $L_{\kappa,\lambda}$. (We showed that the completeness theorem fails for more general logics if we require proofs to have finite length.)
Feb 5
Proof of the compactness theorem part 1: extending a finitely satisfiable set $\Sigma$ to a finitely satisfiable set $\Sigma'\supseteq \Sigma$ that satisfies the completeness condition and has witnesses.
Feb 7
Proof of the compactness theorem part 2: a finitely satisfiable set of sentences that satisfies the completeness condition and has witnesses has a model. (We only got to the point where we defined the universe of the model and the interpretations of the nonlogical symbols of the language.)
Feb 10
Proof of the compactness theorem part 3: almost finished.
Feb 12
Finished the proof of the compactness theorem. Discussed some corollaries.
Feb 14
Discussed more corollaries and some "applications" of the compactness theorem.
Feb 17
Discussed ultrafilters.
Feb 19
We proved the ultrafilter convergence theorem, defined ultraproducts and stated Łos's Theorem.
Feb 21
A guest lecturer proved Łos's Theorem.
Feb 24
A guest lecturer defined "elementary map" and proved that the diagonal embedding into an ultrapower is elementary.
Feb 26
A class of structures is axiomatizable iff it is closed under ultraproducts and elementary equivalence iff it is closed under ultraproducts and the formation of elementary substructures. Handout.
Feb 28
Comparison of $\mathbf A\leq \mathbf B$ and $\mathbf A\prec \mathbf B$. Tarski-Vaught Criterion. Relationships between "model complete theory", "theory with quantifier elimination" and "Skolem theory".
Mar 3
We showed that Skolem theories have quantifier elimination and that every theory can be enlarged to a Skolem theory. We derived the Downward Lowenheim-Skolem-Tarski Theorem.
Mar 5
Upward Lowenheim-Skolem-Tarski Theorem. We discussed why an elementary substructure of a simple group must be simple, but an elementary extension need not be. We introduced the notion of an "elimination set" and defined "quantifier elimination" (again).
Mar 7
We proved that the theory of infinite sets in the language of equality has q.e.
Mar 10
We proved two theorems:
Diagram Lemma.
$\bf B_A$ is a model of the (elementary) diagram of $\bf A$ iff the mapping $h\colon \bf A\to \bf B\colon a^{\bf A}\mapsto a^{\bf B}$ is an (elementary) embedding.

Theorem.
Let $T$ be an $\mathcal L$-theory and let $\varphi({\bf x})$ be an $\mathcal L$-formula. TFAE.
(1) $T\models \varphi({\bf x})\leftrightarrow \alpha({\bf x})$ for some q.f. $\alpha({\bf x})$.
(2) For all $\bf B, \bf C\models T$, $\bf A\leq \bf B, \bf C$ and $\mathbf a\in A$, $\bf B\models \varphi[{\mathbf a}]$ iff $\bf C\models \varphi[{\mathbf a}]$.

We used the theorem to show that if $T$ is any theory of fields (in the language of rings) which has quantifier elimination, then whenever $\bf B \leq \bf C$ and both are models of $T$, then $\bf B$ is relatively algebraically closed in $\bf C$. (I.e., any element of $\bf C$ that is algebraic over $\bf B$ lies in $\bf B$.)
Mar 12
We explained why ACF has q.e. in the language of rings and why RCF does not have q.e. in the language of rings.
Mar 14
We described all theories extending $\textrm{ACF}$, in particular the complete extensions are $\textrm{ACF}_p$ and $\textrm{ACF}_0$. A complete first-order axiomatization of the field of complex numbers in the language of rings can be obtained from this. Namely, a set of axioms for $\textrm{Th}(\bf C)$ consists of the sentences asserting that it is an algebracally closed field of characteristic zero. We also showed that any definable subset of an algebraically closed field is finite or cofinite.
We explained why $\textrm{RCF}$ is complete, thereby obtaining a first-order axiomatization of the field of real numbers. Namely, a basis for its theory consists of the sentences asserting that it is a field whose nonzero squares form a positive cone for a strict linear ordering and that the intermediate value theorem holds.
Along the way we defined "algebraically prime structure", "algebraically prime model", "having algebraically prime models", and "prime model". We observed that if $T$ has q.e. and $T$ has an algebraically prime structure, then $T$ is complete.
Mar 17
We defined types and looked at some examples.
Mar 19
Partial types consistent with a theory can be realized in a model. Supported partial types consistent with a complete theory must be realized in every model. We started on the proof of the Omitting Types Theorem.
Mar 21
We finished the proof of the Omitting Types Theorem. I gave an example showing why "countable language" is necessary. I briefly outlined the difference needed in statement of the theorem for uncountable languages. (Our book doesn't have this result, but see Theorem 2.2.19 of Chang-Keisler.) We explained why $S_n(T)$ is finite if $T$ is $\aleph_0$-categorical in a countable language.
Mar 31
We explained why (when $T$ is a complete theory in a countable language) the space $S_n(T)$ has cardinality $2^{\aleph_0}$ or else cardinality $\leq \aleph_0$. We also explained why, in the first case (when $|S_n(T)|=2^{\aleph_0}$), the theory $T$ must have the maximum number of models. The explanations involved the Urysohn Metrization Theorem, the notions of Polish space and perfect set, and the Cantor-Bendixson Theorem.
Apr 2
We defined atomic theory and atomic model. We proved that if $T$ is a complete theory in a countable language, then $T$ is atomic iff $T$ has a countable atomic model. We stated a theorem asserting that if ${\bf A}$ and ${\bf B}$ are countable atomic models with the same theory, and they are back and forth equivalent, then ${\bf A}\cong{\bf B}$.
Apr 4
We described Ehrenfeucht's example, back and forth equivalence, the fact that countable atomic models of a complete theory are isomorphic and prime.
Apr 7
We defined categoricity. We proved that Vaught's completeness criterion. We proved the Engeler, Ryll-Nardzewski, Svenonius Theorem characterizing $\aleph_0$-categorical structures.
Apr 9
We reviewed some recent topics, then presented Ehrenfeucht's theories for which $I(T,\aleph_0) = n$ for $n$ equal to any natural number $\geq 3$. We outlined the proof of Vaught's Theorem that $I(T,\aleph_0) \neq 2$.
Apr 11
We proved that a reduct of an $\aleph_0$-categorical structure is again an $\aleph_0$-categorical structure, as is an expansion by finitely many constants. We defined "$\kappa$-saturated structure" and gave examples. We fleshed out our earlier proof-sketch of Vaught's Theorem that $I(T,\aleph_0) \neq 2$.
Apr 14
We proved that two definitions of "$\kappa$-saturated" are equivalent. (One defn involved the realization of all $n$-types over a set of size $<\kappa$, while the other involved only the realization of $1$-types.) We then characterized $\kappa$-saturated models by the property that an elementary partial map into a $\kappa$-saturated structure can be properly extended if its domain has size $<\kappa$.
Apr 16
We showed that $\kappa$-saturated = $\kappa$-homogeneous + $\kappa^+$-universal. We explained why short tuples of the same type in a $\kappa$-homogeneous model differ by an automorphism. (Short means: $|{\bf a}|<\kappa$.) We identified which models of Ehrenfeucht's 3-model theory are $\kappa$-saturated, $\kappa$-homogeneous and $\kappa^+$-universal.
Apr 18
We started the proof that a complete theory $T$ in a countable language has a countable $\omega$-saturated model iff $S_n(T)$ is countable for all $n$.
Apr 21
We finished the proof that a complete theory $T$ in a countable language has a countable $\omega$-saturated model iff $S_n(T)$ is countable for all $n$. In particular, any complete theory in a countable language that has fewer than the maximum number of countable models has a countable $\omega$-saturated model. We noted that even some theories with the maximum number of models might have countable type spaces (hence a countable $\omega$-saturated model), such as DLO + constants naming an increasing $\omega^2$-chain.
We also showed that if ${\bf A}$ is $\kappa$-saturated and ${\bf u}$ is from $A$ and $|{\bf u}|<\kappa$, then $A_{\bf u}$ is $\kappa$-saturated. We noted that the corresponding result for $\kappa$-universal models is false.
Apr 23
We discussed (without proving) Morley's Theorem that a theory in a countable language that is $\kappa$-categorical for some uncountable $\kappa$ is $\kappa$-categorical for all uncountable $\kappa$. We then discussed Vaught's Conjecture, and began the proof of Morley's theorem that a complete theory in a countable language has either $\omega_0, \omega_1$ or $2^{\omega_0}$-many models. In this lecture we only introduced ${\mathcal L}_{\kappa,\lambda}$ and mentioned Scott's Isomorphism Theorem.
Apr 25
We defined "fragments" of ${\mathcal L}_{\omega_1,\omega}$ and "scattered theory". To any scattered theory $T$ in a countable language $\mathcal L$ we defined a sequence of fragments ${\mathcal L}_{\alpha}$, $\alpha<\omega_1$, and used them to define $\textrm{tp}^{\mathbf A}_{\alpha}(\bar{a})$. We proved that every countable model of $T$ has a countable ordinal "height".
Apr 28
We proved that if $T$ is a scattered theory in a countable language, then $T$ has at most $\omega_1$-many countable models.
Apr 30
We proved that if $S_n(F,T)$ has size continuum for some countable fragment $F$, then $T$ has the maximum number of countable models. We defined Borel and analytic sets, and started on a proof that $S_n(F,T)$ is analytic.
May 2
We completed the proof that $S_n(F,T)$ is analytic.