# Model theory seminar

The Model theory seminar meets weekly at the CUNY Graduate Center on Fridays 12:30 until 1:45, covering a broad collection of topics in model theory. The seminar is organized by Alfred Dolich, Roman Kossak, Hans Schoutens and Philipp Rothmaler.
(76 items)

Model theory seminarFriday, March 4, 201612:30 pmGC 6417

# Potential Cardinality for Countable First Order Theories

University of Maryland

Give a theory $T$, understanding the countable model theory of $T$ has long been a topic of research. The number of countable models of $T$ is a classical but very coarse invariant, and this was refined significantly by Friedman and Stanley with the notion of Borel reductions.

Given theories $T_1$ and $T_2$, it is often straightforward to show that $T_1$ is Borel reducible to $T_2$. However, there are few tools to show that no such Borel reduction exists. Most of the existing tools only work when the isomorphism relation of one or both is particularly simple, or at least Borel.

We define the notion of “potential cardinality” of $T$, denoted $|T|$, as the number of formally consistent, possibly uncountable Scott sentences which imply $T$. It turns out that if $T_1$ Borel reduces to $T_2$, then $|T_1|$ is less than or equal to $|T_2|$. Additionally, it turns out that very frequently, $|T|$ can be computed and is not a proper class.

We use this idea to give a new class of examples of first-order theories whose isomorphism relations are neither Borel nor Borel complete. Along the way we answer an old question of Koerwien and new question of Laskowski and Shelah.

This is joint work with Douglas Ulrich and Chris Laskowski.

Model theory seminarFriday, February 19, 201612:30 pmGC 6417

# Lattices of Elementary Substructures

The set of elementary substructures of a model of PA, under the inclusion relation, form a lattice. The lattice problem for models of PA asks which lattices can be represented as substructure lattices of some model of PA. This question dates back to Gaifman’s work on minimal types, which showed that the two element chain can be represented as a substructure lattice. Since then, there have been many important contributions to this problem, including by Paris, Wilkie, Mills, and Schmerl, though no complete picture has yet emerged. Studying this question involves knowledge of models of PA as well as some nontrivial lattice theory and combinatorics. In my talk, I will survey some of the major results and, if there’s time, give an idea of the techniques used to study this question.

Model theory seminarFriday, December 11, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Scott ranks of models of a theory

University of California Berkeley

I will talk about a few different results about the Scott ranks of models of a theory. (By a theory, I mean a sentence of Lω1ω.) These results are all related in that they all follow from the same general construction; this construction takes a pseudo-elementary class C of linear orders and produces a theory T such that the Scott ranks of models of T are related to the well-founded parts of linear orders in C.

The main result is a descriptive-set-theoretic classification of the collections of ordinals which are the Scott spectrum of a theory. We also answer some open questions. First, we show that for each ordinal β, there is a Π20 theory which has no models of Scott rank less than β. Second, we find the Scott height of computable infinitary sentences. Third, we construct a computable model of Scott rank ω1CK+1 which is not approximated by models of low Scott rank.

Model theory seminarFriday, December 4, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Zero-one laws for discrete metric spaces

University of Illinois Chicago

Fix an integer $r \geq 3$. Given an integer $n$, we define $M_r(n)$ to be the set of metric spaces with underlying set ${1,\ldots,n}$ such that the distance between any two points lies in ${1,\ldots,r}$. We present results describing the approximate structure of these metric spaces when $n$ is large. As a consequence of these structural results in the case when $r$ is even, we obtain a first-order labeled $0$-$1$ law. This is joint work with Dhruv Mubayi.

Friday, November 27, 2015

# No talks November 27

There will be no talks on November 27, the day after Thanksgiving.

Model theory seminarFriday, November 13, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# On maximal immediate extensions of valued fields

University of Katowice

A valued field extension is called immediate if the corresponding value group and residue field extensions are trivial. A better understanding of the structure of such extensions turned out to be important for questions in algebraic geometry, real algebra and the model theory of valued fields.

In this talk we focus mainly on the problem of the uniqueness of maximal immediate extensions.
Kaplansky proved that under a certain condition, which he called “hypothesis A”, all maximal immediate extensions of the valued field are isomorphic. We study a more general case, omitting one of the conditions of hypothesis~A. We describe the structure of maximal immediate extensions of valued fields under such weaker assumptions. This leads to another condition under which fields in this class admit unique maximal immediate extensions.

We further prove that there is a class of fields which admit an algebraic maximal immediate extension as well as one of infinite transcendence degree. We introduce a classification of Artin-Schreier defect extensions and describe its importance for the construction of such maximal immediate extensions.

We present also the consequences of the above results and and of the model theory of tame fields for the problem of uniqueness of maximal immediate extensions up to elementary equivalence.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 30, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# On the Existence of Parametrized Strongly Normal Extensions

In this talk we look at the problem of existence of differential Galois extensions for parameterized logarithmic equations. More precisely, if E and D are two distinguished sets of derivations and K is an E union D-field of characteristic zero, we look at conditions on (K^E,D), the E-constants of K, that guarantee that every (parameterized) E-logarithmic equation over K has a parameterized strongly normal extension. This is joint work with Omar Leon Sanchez.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 23, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Model theory of generalized Urysohn spaces

University of Notre Dame

Many well known examples of homogeneous metric spaces and graphs can be viewed as analogs of the rational Urysohn space (for example, the random graph as the Urysohn space with distances {0,1,2}). In this talk, I consider the R-Urysohn space, where R is an arbitrary ordered commutative monoid. I will first construct an extension R* of R, such that any model of the theory of the R-Urysohn space (in a relational language) can be given the structure of an R*-metric space. I will then characterize quantifier elimination in this theory by continuity of addition in R*. Finally, I will characterize various model theoretic properties of the R-Urysohn space (e.g. stability, simplicity, weak elimination of imaginaries) using natural algebraic properties of R.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 16, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Transfer of the Ramsey Property between Classes

Vassar College

In this talk, we investigate some ways in which the property of being Ramsey may be transferred between classes of finite structures. We look at some category-theoretic and model-theoretic approaches.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 9, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Euclidean domains of arbitrarily high Euclidean rank

College of Staten Island - CUNY

We will construct Euclidean domains of arbitrarily high Euclidean rank.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 2, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Effective bounds for the existence of differential field extensions

We present a new upper bound for the existence of a differential field extension of a differential field
(K; D) that is compatible with a given field extension of K. In 2014, Pierce provided an upper bound in
terms of lengths of certain antichain sequences of N^m equipped with the product order. Pierce’s theory
has interesting applications to the model theory of fields with m commuting derivations, and his results
have been used when studying effective methods in differential algebra, such as the effective differential
Nullstellensatz problem. We use a new approach involving Macaulay’s theorem on the Hilbert function
to produce an improved upper bound. In particular, we see markedly improved results in the case of two
and three derivations.

This is joint work with Omar Leon Sanchez.

Friday, September 25, 2015

# No talks on September 25

On Friday, September 25, CUNY will follow a Tuesday schedule. Therefore, no logic seminars will meet that day.

Model theory seminarFriday, September 11, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Degree spectra of real closed fields

City University of New York

The degree spectrum of a countable structure is the set of all Turing degrees of isomorphic copies of that structure. This topic has been widely studied in computable model theory. Here we examine the possible degree spectra of real closed fields, finding them to offer far more complexity than the related theory of algebraically closed fields. The co-author of this project, Victor Ocasio Gonzalez, showed in his dissertation that, for every linear order L, there exists a real closed field whose spectrum is the pre-image under jump of the spectrum of L. We add further results, distinguishing the cases of archimedean and non-archimedean real closed fields, and splitting the latter into two subcases based on the existence of a least multiplicative class of positive nonstandard elements. If such a class exists, then finiteness in the field is always decidable, but the case with no such class proves more interesting.

Model theory seminarFriday, May 22, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Model-completeness of transseries

University of California, Los Angeles

The concept of a “transseries” is a natural extension of that of a Laurent series, allowing for exponential and logarithmic terms. Transseries were introduced in the 1980s by the analyst Écalle and also, independently, by the logicians Dahn and Göring. The germs of many naturally occurring real-valued functions of one variable have asymptotic expansions which are transseries. Since the late 1990s, van den Dries, van der Hoeven, and myself, have pursued a program to understand the algebraic and model-theoretic aspects of this intricate but fascinating mathematical object. Last year we were able to make a significant step forward, and established a model completeness theorem for the valued differential field of transseries in its natural language. My goal for this talk is to introduce transseries without prior knowledge of the subject, and to explain our recent work.

Model theory seminarFriday, May 15, 201512:00 pmGC 6417

# Actions on sets of Morley rank $2$

Hamilton College

Recently, Borovik and Cherlin initiated a broad study of permutation groups of finite Morley rank with a key topic being high degrees of generic transitivity. One of the main problems that they pose is to show that there is a natural upper bound on the degree of generic transitivity that depends only upon the rank of the set being acted on. Specifically, the problem is to show that the only groups of finite Morley rank with a generically $(n+2)$-transitive action on a set of rank $n$ are those of the form ${PGL}_{n+1}$. A solution when $n=1$, due to Hrushovski, has been known for a few decades as in this case the set is strongly minimal. In this talk, I will present recent work, joint with Tuna Altinel, addressing the case of $n=2$. The analysis of these actions makes considerable use of the structure of groups of small rank, and as such, I will also discuss some new results on groups of Morley rank $4$.

Model theory seminarFriday, May 8, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Computable Functors between Nested Equivalence Structures and Full Trees of Finite Height

George Washington University

Trees have long been used throughout mathematics to better understand and represent many different types of objects and structures. In this talk we examine finitely nested equivalence structures. Such structures consist of a set of natural numbers and a finite number of equivalence relations which are nested inside of each other. (That is, their resulting equivalence classes are subsets of each other.) We utilize the notions of category theory to build functors between nested equivalence structures and full trees of finite height. These functors behave quite nicely, and we build them in a computable way so that the various computability-theoretic properties of the structures are preserved. We discuss computable isomorphisms and the Turing degree spectrum of a structure – defining and giving examples of each, and showing how, once our computable functors are constructed, such properties transfer readily between nested equivalence structures and trees.

Model theory seminarFriday, April 24, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Fermat’s Last Theorem and Catalan’s conjecture in weak exponential arithmetics

Charles University

This is a joint work with Vitezslav Kala.

Wiles’s proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem (FLT) has stimulated a lively discussion on how much is actually needed for the proof.
Despite the fact that the original proof uses set-theoretical assumptions unprovable in Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory with axiom of choice (ZFC) (namely, the existence of Grothendieck universes), it is widely believed that
certainly much less than ZFC is used in principle, probably nothing beyond Peano arithmetic, and perhaps much less than that.

I will start with a brief summary of existing positive and negative results on provability of FLT in various arithmetical theories.

In this talk, we will consider structures and theories in the language L=(0,1,+,x,<,e), where the symbol e is intended for a (partial or total) binary exponential. We show that Fermat's Last Theorem for e (i.e. the statement "e(a,n)+e(b,n)=e(c,n) has no non-zero solution for n>2″) is not provable in the L-theory Th(N)+Exp, where Th(N) stands for the complete theory of the standard model N=(N,0,1,+,x,<) and Exp is a natural set of axioms for e (consisting mostly of elementary identities). On the other hand, under the assumption of ABC conjecture (in the standard model), we show that the Catalan conjecture for e is provable in Th(N)+Exp (even in a weaker theory). This gives an interesting separation of strengths of these two diophantine problems. Finally, we also show that Fermat's Last Theorem for e is provable (again, under the assumption of ABC in N) in Th(N)+Exp +"coprimality for e". Slides from this talk.

Friday, April 3, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015

# Spring break

CUNY’s spring vacation is April 3-11, 2015. Therefore, no seminars will meet at the Graduate Center on April 3, nor on April 10.

Model theory seminarFriday, March 27, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Independence, via limits

Wesleyan University

Given a large model M of some theory T, I will describe a method for lifting well-behaved notions of independence from the theories of substructures of M to a reasonably well-behaved notion of independence in M. (In essence, we take the limit of the independence relations in the substructures.) The motivating example – two-sorted theories of infinite-dimensional vector spaces over an algebraically closed field and with a bilinear form – was worked out by N. Granger in his thesis. I will outline this example before launching into the more general framework.

Model theory seminarFriday, March 20, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Whitney’s Extension Theorem in O-minimal Context

Ohio State University

Let $U$ be an open subset of $R^n$ and $f$, a function from $U$ to $R$, be $C^m$. We call the collection of $f$ and its derivatives, the jet of order $m$ of $f$. In 1934, H. Whitney asked how can we determine whether a collection of continuous functions on a closed subset of $R^n$ is a jet of order $m$ of a $C^m$-function and also gave a solution to this question which is known as Whitney’s Extension Theorem.
In this talk, let $R$ be an o-minimal expansion of the real field. We discuss whether a collection of continuous functions on a closed subset of $R^n$ is a jet of order $m$ of a $C^m$-function which is definable in $R$.

Friday, March 13, 20152:00 pmGC 6417

# Ramsey-type theorems in certain NIP theories

University of Notre Dame

In the paper “Crossing patterns of semi-algebraic sets” (J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 111, 2005) Alon et al. showed that families of graphs with the edge relation given by a semialgebraic relation of bounded complexity satisfy a stronger regularity property than arbitrary graphs. In this talk we show that this can be generalized to families of graphs whose edge relation is uniformly definable in a structure satisfying a certain model theoretic property called distality.

This is a joint work with A. Chernikov.

Model theory seminarFriday, March 6, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Generic Linear Functions over Divisible Ordered Abelian Groups

The City University of New York

Let T be the theory of divisible ordered Abelian groups in a language L
where T has quantifier elimination. Let f be a new unary function symbol. We
would like to consider the L(f)-theory T(a) expanding T together with axioms
for “f is an automorphism”. Unfortunately it is well known that T(a) does not
have a model companion and generally is not easy to analyze. Rather we look at
a weaker theory T(l) once again expanding T but with axioms for “l is a linear
bijection”. T(l) has a model companion and we provide a detailed analysis of
this theory.

Model theory seminarFriday, February 20, 201512:30 pmGC 6417

# Coding sets in end extensions

The City University of New York

Much work in the model theory of Peano Arithmetic is based on constructions of elementary end extensions. Let N be an elementary end extension of M. An important isomorphism invariant of the pair (N,M), is Cod(N/M)—the set of intersections with M of the definable subsets of N. For a given model M, one wants to characterize those subsets X of M for which there is an elementary end extension of N of M such that X is in Cod(N/M), and those subsets A of the power set of M for which there is an N, such that A=Cod(N/M). Such characterizations involve properties of subsets of M, but also, a bit surprisingly, properties of M itself. I will talk about some old and some new results in this area.

Friday, February 13, 201512:30 pm

# February 13

Neither the Logic Workshop nor the Model Theory Seminar will meet on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. Both Feb. 12 and Feb. 16 are CUNY holidays. We will resume on Friday, Feb. 20.

Model theory seminarFriday, February 6, 201512:30 pmGC 4102 (Science Center)Note different location (this week only).

# Model theory and algebraic geometry in groups and algebras

Stevens Institute of Techology

We consider some fundamental model-theoretic questions that can be asked about a given algebraic structure (a group, a ring, etc.), or a class of structures, to understand its principal algebraic and logical properties. These Tarski type questions include: elementary classification and decidability of the first-order theory.

In the case of free groups we proved (in 2006) that two non-abelian free groups of different ranks are elementarily equivalent, classified finitely generated groups elementarily equivalent to a finitely generated free group (also done by Sela) and proved decidability of the first-order theory.

We describe partial solutions to Tarski’s problems in the class of free associative and Lie algebras of finite rank and some open problems. In particular, we will show that unlike free groups, two free associative algebras of finite rank over the same field are elementarily equivalent if and only if they are isomorphic. Two free associative algebras of finite rank over different infinite fields are elementarily equivalent if and only if the fields are equivalent in the weak second order logic, and the ranks are the same. We will also show that for any field the theory of a free associative algebra is undecidable.

These are joint results with O. Kharlampovich

Model theory seminarFriday, December 5, 201410:45 amGC 5382

# Tameness in abstract elementary classes

University of Illinois Chicago

Tameness is a locality property of Galois types in AECs. Since its isolation by Grossberg and VanDieren 10 years ago, it has been used to prove new results (upward categoricity transfer, stability transfer) and replace set-theoretic hypotheses (existence of independence notions). In this talk, we will outline the basic definitions, summarize some key results, and discuss some open questions related to tameness.

Model theory seminarFriday, November 21, 201410:45 am

# Countable model theory and the complexity of isomorphism

University of Maryland

We discuss the Borel complexity of the isomorphism relation (for countable models of a first order theory) as the “right” generalization of the model counting problem. In this light we present recent results of Dave Sahota and the speaker which completely characterize the complexity of isomorphism for o-minimal theories, as well as recent work of Laskowski and Shelah which give a partial answer for omega-stable theories. Along the way, we introduce a few open problems and barriers to generalizing the existing results.

Model theory seminarFriday, November 14, 201410:45 amGC5382

# Some new maximum VC classes

John Jay College

Vapnik-Chervonenkis classes with the maximum property are in some sense the most perfect set systems of finite Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension. Definability of maximum VC classes in model theoretic structures is closely tied to other measures of complexity such as dp-rank. In this talk we show that set systems realizable as sets of positivity for linear combinations of real analytic functions have the maximum property on sets in general position. This may have applications to proving lower bounds on dp-rank in certain theories.

Model theory seminarFriday, November 7, 201410:45 amGC5382

# Representing Scott sets in algebraic settings

University of Illinois at Chicago

The longstanding problem of representing Scott sets as standard systems of models of Peano Arithmetic is one of the most vexing in the subject. We show that the analogous question has a positive solution for real closed fields and Presburger arithmetic. This is joint work with Alf Dolich, Julia Knight and Karen Lange.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 31, 201410:45 amGC5382

# Independence in tame abstract elementary classes

Carnegie Mellon University

Good frames are one of the main notions in Shelah’s classification theory for abstract elementary classes. Roughly speaking, a good frame describes a local forking-like notion for the class. In Shelah’s book, the theory of good frames is developed over hundreds of pages, and many results rely on GCH-like hypotheses and sophisticated combinatorial set theory.

In this talk, I will argue that dealing with good frames is much easier if one makes the global assumption of tameness (a locality condition introduced by Grossberg and VanDieren). I will outline a proof of the following result: Assume K is a tame abstract elementary class which has amalgamation, no maximal models, and is categorical in a cardinal of cofinality greater than the tameness cardinal. Then K is stable everywhere and has a good frame.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 24, 201410:45 amGC5382

# Morphic Modules and the Ziegler Spectrum

We will review the definitions of morphic rings and modules, and prove a result concerning conditions equivalent to total uniform morphicity of a ring (all R-modules being morphic in a uniform way). We consider questions such as, which abelian groups are morphic, and when products of morphic modules are morphic. This will lead us to a discussion of the Ziegler spectrum, and its relation to morphicness.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 17, 201410:45 amGC5382

# Model theory of difference fields, part II

City College -- CUNY

This talk is a continuation of last week’s Logic Workshop. The necessary background will be summarized briefly at the beginning of this talk.

ACFA, the theory of difference closed fields, is a rich source of explicit examples of forking independence and nonorthogonality, the distinction between stable and simple theories, and the distinction between one-based and locally-modular groups. To present these examples, I will introduce “difference varieties”, which are the basic building blocks of definable sets in ACFA, and “sigma-varieties”, a more tractable special case of these.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 10, 201410:45 amGC5382Note New Room

# Modular Invariant of Quantum Tori

Instituto de Matematicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico

The modular invariant jqt of quantum tori is defined as a discontinuous, PGL(2,Z)-invariant multi-valued map of the reals R. For θ ∈ Q, jqt(θ) = ∞ and for quadratic irrationalities, experiments conducted with the PARI/GP computer algebra system suggest that jqt(θ) is a finite set. In the case of the golden mean φ, we produce explicit formulas for the experimental supremum and infimum of jqt(φ) involving weighted generalizations of the Rogers–Ramanujan functions. Finally, we define a universal modular invariant as a continuous and single-valued map of “ultrasolenoids” (quotients of sheaves of ultrapowers over Stone spaces) from which jqt as well as the classical modular invariant of elliptic curves may be recovered as subquotients.

Friday, September 26, 2014

# No seminars on Sept. 26 or October 3

CUNY will have holidays on two consecutive Fridays, September 26 and October 3, 2014, so the Logic Workshop and other seminars will not meet on those days.

Friday, September 19, 201412:30 pmGC 5382

# Model theory and the Painlevé equations

The Painlevé equations are nonlinear 2nd order ODEs and come in six families P1,…, P6, where P1 consists of the single equation $y′′=6y^2+t$, and P2,…, P6 come with some complex parameters. They were discovered strictly for mathematical considerations at the beginning of the 20th century but have arisen in a variety of important physical applications, including for example random matrix theory and general relativity.

Friday, September 12, 201412:30 pmGC 5382

# Effective Bounds For Finite Differential-Algebraic Varieties (Part I)

University of California, Berkeley

Given a differential algebraic variety over a partial differential field, can one give bounds for the degree of the Zariski closure which depend only on the order and degree of the differential polynomials (but not the parameters) which determine the variety? We will discuss the general theory of prolongations of differential algebraic varieties as developed by Moosa and Scanlon, and use this theory to reduce the problem to a combinatorial problem (which will be discussed in detail in the second part of the talk). Along the way we will give numerous examples of the usefulness of the result, some of an arithmetic flavor. We will also describe some other applications of the theory of prolongations.
This is joint work with Omar Sanchez.

Model theory seminarFriday, May 23, 201412:30 pmGC6417

# On compositions of symmetrically and elementarily indivisible structures

Ben Gurion University of the Negev

A structure M in a first order language L is indivisible if for every colouring of its universe in two colours, there is a monochromatic substructure M’ of M such that M’ is isomorphic to M. Additionally, we say that M is symmetrically indivisible if M’ can be chosen to be symmetrically embedded in M (That is, every automorphism of M’ can be can be extended to an automorphism of M}), and that M is elementarily indivisible if M’ can be chosen to be an elementary substructure.

The notion of indivisibility is a long-studied subject. We will present these strengthenings of the notion,
examples and some basic properties. in [1] several questions regarding these new notions arose: If M is symmetrically indivisible or all of its reducts to a sublanguage symmetrically indivisible? Is an elementarily indivisible structure necessarily homogeneous? Does elementary indivisibility imply symmetric indivisibility?

We will define a new “product” of structures, generalising the notions of lexicographic order and lexicographic product of graphs, which preserves indivisibility properties and use it to answer the questions above.

[1] Assaf Hasson, Menachem Kojman and Alf Onshuus, On symmetric indivisibility of countable structures, Model Theoretic Methods in Finite Combinatorics, AMS, 2011, pp.417–452.

Model theory seminarFriday, May 9, 201412:30 pmGC6417

# VC-dimension in model theory and other subjects

Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7

Finite VC-dimension, a combinatorial property of families of
sets, was discovered simultaneously by Vapnik and Chervonenkis in the
context of probabilistic learning theory, and by Shelah in model
theory in the context of classification of unstable first-order
theories (where it is called NIP). From the model theoretic point of
view it is a very attractive setting generalizing stability and
to study ordered and valued fields. I will give an overview of some
results around NIP related to set theory (counting Dedekind cuts in
infinite linear orders), topological dynamics and compression schemes
in computational learning theory.

Model theory seminarFriday, April 11, 201412:30 pmGC 6417

# Automorphism groups of large models: small index property and AECs

The general question of recovering a model (or its theory, or some appropriate AEC connected to it) from its automorphism group was originally studied by Hodges, Lascar, Shelah among others. The “Small Index Property” (SIP) emerged in their work as a bridge between topological and purely algebraic properties of those groups and ultimately as a tool to understand. I will speak about the SIP from two perspectives: first, I will present aspects of Lascar and Shelah’s proof of SIP for uncountable saturated structures (succinctly, if M is such a structure and G is a subgroup of Aut(M) with index less than or equal to λ=|M|, then G is open in the “λ-topology”) and then I will present an extension of the SIP to some abstract elementary classes. This second part of the lecture is joint work with Zaniar Ghadernezhad.

Model theory seminarFriday, April 4, 201412:30 pmGC6417

# Symmetric random constructions in model theory

M.I.T.

Several well known universal homogeneous structures, such as the Rado graph and the rational Urysohn space, can be obtained via probabilistic constructions that do not make use of the labeling of the underlying set. Which other countable structures admit random constructions that are symmetric in this way? Several years ago in the CUNY Logic Workshop I presented a characterization of such structures, due to Ackerman, Patel and myself. Here I will report on two recent extensions. This is joint work with Nate Ackerman, Aleksandra Kwiatkowska, Jaroslav Nesetril, and Rehana Patel.

One natural question concerns theories rather than structures. I will present results describing when there are symmetric probabilistic constructions of models of a given theory that assign probability zero to each isomorphism class of models.

One may further ask which structures admit just one such probabilistic construction. I will provide a complete list: there are only five of them, up to interdefinability. Furthermore, any countable structure admitting more than one invariant measure must admit continuum-many ergodic invariant measures.

Friday, March 28, 201412:30 pm

# Model theoretic advances for groups with bounded chains of centralizers

Fairfield University

Stable groups have a rich literature, extending ideas about algebraic groups to a wider setting, using the framework of model theory. Stable groups gain much of their strength through their chain conditions, notably the Baldwin-Saxl chain condition. In this talk, we will concern ourselves with one mild, yet very important, chain condition shared by many infinite groups studied by group theorists. A group $G$ is said to be $M_C$ if every chain of centralizers $C_G(A_1)$ ≤ $C_G(A_2)$ ≤ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ is finite. This class is not elementary, yet there is increasing evidence that they share many important properties of stable groups. All the present results concern nilpotence in $M_C$ groups. The first results in this area were purely group-theoretic, but recent results by Wagner, Altinel and Baginski have uncovered that some of the desired definability results are also present. We will recount the progress that has been made and the obstacles that researchers in this area face.

Model theory seminarFriday, March 21, 201412:30 pmGC 6417

# The consistency of Peano Arithmetic

University of Pennsylvania

In 1936, only a few years after the incompleteness theorems were proved, Gentzen proved the consistency of Peano arithmetic by using transfinite induction up to the ordinal epsilon_0. I will give a short proof of the result, based on on the simplification introduced by Schutte, and discuss some of the consequences.

Model theory seminarFriday, March 7, 201412:30 pmGC 6417

# Turing degree spectra of differentially closed fields

City University of New York

The spectrum Spec(M) of a countable structure M is the set of all Turing degrees of structures isomorphic to M. This topic has been the focus of much research. Here we describe the spectra of countable differentially closed fields of characteristic 0: they are precisely the preimages { d : d’ ∈ Spec(G) } of spectra of arbitrary countable graphs G, under the jump operation. To establish this, we describe the proofs of two theorems: one showing how to build the appropriate differential field K from a given graph G, and the other showing that every low model of the theory DCF0 is isomorphic to a computable one. The latter theorem (which relativizes, to give the main result above) resembles the famous result of Downey and Jockusch on Boolean algebras, but the proof is different, yielding a Δ2 isomorphism between the low model and its computable copy; moreover, our first theorem shows that the extension of the result to the low4 case for Boolean algebras does not hold for DCF0.

This is joint work by Dave Marker and the speaker. The slides for this talk are available here.

Model theory seminarFriday, February 28, 201412:30 pmGC 6417

# Fullness

A model M of PA is full if, for every set X definable in (M, omega), there is an X’ definable in M with the same standard part (i.e. X intersect omega = X’ intersect omega). I will show a result due to R. Kaye that characterizes fullness: M is full if and only if its standard system is a model of full second order comprehension (CA0). I will give a brief outline of the proof, which involves translations (in both directions) between the language of second order arithmetic and the (first order) language of PA with a “standardness” predicate. If there is time, I also plan to discuss full saturation and some connections to other notions of saturation (in particular, transplendence and possibly arithmetic saturation).

Model theory seminarFriday, February 21, 201412:30 pm

# Ordered structures with dense/co-dense sets

The City University of New York

The canonical class of densely ordered structures which may be considered “tame” are the o-minimal structures – namely those structures (M,<,...) where any definable subset X is a finite union of points and intervals. In this talk I will consider structure (M,<,...) in which there are definable subsets which are dense and co-dense in the line yet which may still be considered "tame". I will outline some of the general theory of these structures, compare the model theoretic properties of the examples, and discuss various open problems arising out of this study.

Model theory seminarFriday, December 6, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# VC Density and Breadth on Modules

I will review the notions of VC-dimension, VC-density, and breadth on modules, before describing and motivating some partial results to open questions from a paper by Aschenbrenner, Dolich, Haskell, Macpherson, and Starchenko.

Model theory seminarFriday, November 22, 201312:30 pm

# Dividing and conquering: locally definable sets as stand-alone structures

City College -- CUNY

In what sense is the ring of polynomials in one variable over a field k interpretable in k? In what sense is the subgroup of G generated by a definable subset D of G interpretable in G? These questions have been answered in various particular contexts by various people. We set up a general formalism to treat such piece-wise interpreted objects as stand-alone multi-sorted first-order structures. This formalism is motivated by our quest to create a model-theoretically tractable analog of sheaf theory. This is a very preliminary report on joint work with Ramin Takloo-Bighash.

Model theory seminarFriday, November 15, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# On dense independent subsets of geometric structures

Memorial University of Newfoundland and Christopher Newport University

We consider expansions of geometric theories obtained by adding a predicate distinguishing a “dense” independent subset, generalizing a construction introduced by A. Dolich, C. Miller and C. Steinhorn in the o-minimal context. The expansion preserves many of the properties related to stability, simplicity, rosiness and NIP. We also study the structure induced on the predicate, and show that despite its geometric triviality, it inherits most of the “combinatorial” complexity of the original theory. This is a joint work with Alexander Berenstein.

Model theory seminarFriday, November 8, 201312:30 pmGC6417

# A class of strange expansions of dense linear orders by open sets

Ohio State University

There are expansions of dense linear orders by open sets (of arbitrary arities) such that all of the following hold:

1) Every definable set is a boolean combination of existentially definable sets.
2) Some definable sets are not existentially definable.
3) Some projections of closed bounded definable sets are somewhere both dense and codense.
4) There is a unique maximal reduct having the property that every unary definable set either has interior or is nowhere dense. It properly expands the underlying order, yet is still rather trivial.

At least some of these structures come up naturally in model theory. For example, if G is a generic predicate for the real field, then the expansion of (G,<) by the G-traces of all semialgebraic open sets is such a structure, which moreover is interdefinable with the structure induced on G in (R,+,x,G).

Model theory seminarFriday, November 1, 201312:30 pmGC6417

# Seminar Cancelled

Haverford College

Seminar cancelled Lipell will give his talk at 2:00 in the Workshop.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 25, 201312:30 pm

# LE-Series

The City University of New York

In this expository talk I will discuss the construction of the field of LE-series after van den Dries, Macintyre, and Marker. The field of LE-series is an ordered differential field extending the field of real Laurent series which also has a well-behaved exponential function. The field of LE-series is closed under a host of operations, in particular it is closed under formal integration as well as compositional inverse (once composition has been properly interpreted). As such this field may be viewed, at least conjecturally, as providing a universal domain for ordered differential algebra as witnessed in Hardy fields.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 18, 201312:30 pmGC6417

# Ramsey Transfer Theorems

Vassar College

We survey some of the known approaches to transfer a Ramsey theorem for one class of finite structures to another. We will isolate some easy consequences and point to further directions.

Model theory seminarFriday, October 11, 201312:30 pm

# $\omega_1$-like models of PA

The City University of New York

I will give a brief survey of what is known about $omega_1$-like models of PA (much) and what is not known (much).

Model theory seminarFriday, October 4, 201312:30 pmGC6417

# Real closures of $omega_1$-like models of PA

University of Illinois at Chicago

In an earlier seminar I showed that assuming diamond we can build many $omega_1$-like models of PA with the same standard system but non-isomorphic real closures. In this lecture I will show how to do this without diamond. This is joint work with Jim Schmerl and Charlie Steinhorn.

Model theory seminarFriday, September 27, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# Finite forms of Gowers’ Theorem on the oscillation stability of c_0

Cornell University

We give a constructive proof of the finite version of Gowers’ FIN_k Theorem and analyze the corresponding upper bounds. The FIN_k Theorem is closely related to the oscillation stability of c_0. The stabilization of Lipschitz functions on arbitrary finite dimensional Banach spaces was proved well before by V. Milman. We compare the finite FIN_k Theorem with the Finite Stabilization Principle found by Milman in the case of spaces of the form ell_{infty}^n, ninN, and establish a much slower growing upper bound for the finite stabilization principle in this particular case.

Model theory seminarFriday, September 20, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# Resplendent and Transplendent Models

The City University of New York

This will be a more systematic overview of several topics mentioned by me an others in several talks last year. In particular, I will go over details of some basic arguments involving chronic resplendence.

Model theory seminarFriday, May 10, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# Transplendent models of rich theories

Following up on a talk by Roman Kossak earlier this semester, I will discuss work by Engstrom and Kaye which address the question of existence of transplendent models (models with expansions omitting a type). If there is time, I will talk about transplendent models of PA.

Model theory seminarFriday, May 3, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# VC Dimension and Breadth in Modules

I will review the concept of vc-dimension of a formula, and the vc-function of a first order theory. The concept of breadth on the lattice of PP-definable subgroups of a module will be defined, and the relationship between these notions will be explored. Some model theory of Modules will be used to refine certain questions from the paper of Aschenbrenner, Dolich, Haskell, Macpherson, and Starchenko. The talk will include several pictures and examples to clarify the notions involved.

Model theory seminarFriday, April 26, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# The Non-Axiomatizability of the First-Order Theory of O-Minimality

University of Toronto

For a fixed language L, the first-order L-theory of o-minimality is the set of those L-sentences true in all o-minimal L-structures. It follows from a classical model-theoretic result that a model of this theory is either o-minimal or an elementary substructure of an ultraproduct of o-minimal L-structures. We call these structures pseudo-o-minimal, and note that they will generally not be o-minimal.

In this talk, I will discuss how the study of pseudo-o-minimality fits in to the ongoing project of classifying the tame weakenings of o-minimality. My main focus will be on the recent question of whether for certain fixed languages L, the first-order L-theory of o-minimality is recursively axiomatizable. I will show that it is not whenever L extends the language of ordered fields by at least one new predicate or function symbol. With the time remaining, I will outline some of what is known about the relative tameness of pseudo-o-minimal structures, and mention some open problems in the area.

Friday, April 12, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# Pfaffian functions vs. Rolle leaves

McMaster University

In the early 1980s, after Khovanskii’s ICM lecture, van den Dries formulated the conjecture that the expansion P of the real field by all pfaffian functions was model complete. Thinking about the problem led him to formulate a minimality notion in expansions of the real order, which directly inspired Pillay and Steinhorn in their discovery of o-minimality. However, while P has been known to be o-minimal since Wilkie’s groundbreaking work in 1996, van den Dries’s conjecture is still open today. Recently, Lion and I proved a variant of this conjecture, in which “pfaffian functions” are replaced with “nested Rolle leaves”, which in essence correspond to the objects originally studied by Khovanskii. The mystery lies in how these two expansions are related. I will explain each of them and exhibit a third related notion, found recently in joint work with Jones, which might clarify this relationship.

Friday, March 15, 201312:00 am

# Stability revisited

The City University of New York

I will discuss an observation Ivo Herzog and I made in the last millennium that yields a purely topological definition of stability of a complete first-order theory in terms of their Stone spaces.

Model theory seminarFriday, March 8, 201312:00 amGC 6417

# On strength of weakness

The City University of New York

I will explain why countable models of PA which are just recursively saturated do not have maximal automorphisms. If time permits I will also show why recursive saturation implies standard system saturation for models of rich theories.

Model theory seminarFriday, March 1, 201312:30 pm

# Maximal Automorphisms

The City University of New York

A maximal automorphism of a structure M is an automorphism under which no non-algebraic element of M is fixed.  A problem which has attracted some attention is when for a theory T any countable recursively saturated model of T has a maximal automorphism.  In this talk I will review what is known about this problem in various contexts and then prove a general result that guarantees, under certain mild conditions on T, that any countable recursively saturated model of T does indeed have a maximal automorphism.

Model theory seminarFriday, February 22, 201312:00 am

# Transplendence

The City University of New York

Resplendence is a very useful form of second order saturation. Transplendence, introduced by Fredrik Engström and Richard Kaye, is a stronger notion, that guarantees existence of expansions omitting a type. I will give motivation and outline Engström and Kaye’s general theory of transplendent structures.

Model theory seminarFriday, February 15, 201312:30 pmGC 6417

# Independent sets in computable free groups and fields

City University of New York

We consider maximal independent sets within various sorts of groups and fields freely generated by countably many generators. The simplest example is the free divisible abelian group, which is just an infinite-dimensional rational vector space. As one moves up to free abelian groups, free groups, and “free fields” (i.e. purely transcendental field extensions), maximal independent sets and independent generating sets both become more complicated, from the point of view of computable model theory, but sometimes in unpredictable ways, and certain questions remain open. We present the topic partly for its own sake, but also with the intention of introducing the techniques of computable model theory and illustrating some of its possible uses for an audience to which it may be unfamiliar.

This is joint work with Charles McCoy.

Model theory seminarFriday, February 8, 201312:30 pm

# Organizational Meeting

The City University of New York

We’ll meet to discuss topics to be covered for the semester.