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Specializing forcing kills a Suslin tree
Statement
Let be a transitive model of ZFC, let be a Suslin tree in , and let be its finite-specialization forcing. Then is ccc and preserves every cardinal and cofinality of , in particular . Moreover, with the internal forcing relation of ,
More precisely, forces that the canonical generic union is a total map separating comparable nodes; consequently remains Aronszajn but acquires an uncountable antichain. This is an internal forcing assertion and does not assert the existence of a generic over the universe.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: and as in the Statement. Assume AC in .
A Suslin tree has height , countable levels, no cofinal branch, and no uncountable antichain; a natural-valued map separating comparable nodes specializes a tree. Aronszajn, Suslin and special trees
Conditions in are finite specializing functions, stronger conditions extend weaker graphs, the empty function is the greatest condition, and compatible conditions have a specializing union. Finite specializing conditions
In ZFC the finite-specialization forcing of an Aronszajn tree is ccc. Finite specialization of an Aronszajn tree is ccc
Each node-domain set is dense, and the union of a nonempty directed family meeting all is a total specializing function. Dense domains and directed unions of specializing conditions
Ccc forcing preserves all ground-model cofinalities and cardinals. Chain conditions preserve high cofinalities and ccc preserves cardinals
Under countable choice, no at most countable subset of is cofinal. Assuming countable choice: every at most countable subset of is bounded below , so no at most countable subset of is cofinal in it, and a supremum of at most countably many at most countable ordinals is at most countable
Under countable choice, a countable union of countable sets is countable. Countable unions of at most countable sets, assuming
Check names evaluate to their ground values; name valuation selects exactly the subnames whose coefficients lie in the filter. Valuation of names and M[G], Check-name evaluation and reconstruction of G
Forcing is persistent and closed under dense truth, and the forcing theorem relates the internal predicate to truth in generic extensions without asserting that such a generic over the universe exists. Monotonicity, density, and decision for forcing, Forcing theorem
A generic extension of a transitive ZFC ground is again a transitive ZFC model. Generic extensions satisfy ZF and preserve ground-model Choice
The ground model satisfies AC; its use in the ccc and preservation suppliers and its preservation to the extension are declared explicitly. The Axiom of Choice
Proof
Since a Suslin tree is Aronszajn, [F3] makes ccc; [F2] also verifies that is nonempty with greatest condition . Therefore [F5] says that forcing with preserves every ground cardinal and cofinality, including .
In form the name . For every nonempty , [F8] computes . If is -generic, it is a nonempty directed forcing filter and meets every ; [F4] therefore makes a total specializing map . Functionality is not merely inferred from notation: if contain values for the same node, directedness gives extending both graphs, so [F2] forces those values equal; the identical common-extension argument gives unequal values for every comparable distinct pair.
Work in such an extension , which satisfies ZFC by [F10]. By step 1.1, ordinals and are preserved; the old tree set and relation are unchanged, its old countable-level enumerations remain, and its node-height set remains cofinal in , so still has height . A branch admits an injection into by , since comparable distinct nodes have different values. If were cofinal, its node-height image would be an at most countable cofinal subset of , contradicting [F6]; hence remains Aronszajn.
The fibers are antichains and . If every were countable, [F7] would make countable; then its cofinal node-height image would again be a countable cofinal subset of by [F6], impossible. Thus some is an uncountable antichain. Consequently is special, remains Aronszajn, and is not Suslin in . This includes and does not assume in advance that any fiber is nonempty.
The preceding conclusions are forced internally. Concretely, below every , each is dense; a member carrying has the corresponding check-pair as a coefficient of , while common refinements give exactly the functionality and specialization calculations of step 1.2. Dense truth and persistence in [F9] therefore force the total-specialization clauses below every condition. The ccc preservation theorem and the ZFC argument of steps 2.1-3.1 then force preservation and non-Suslinity. Hence forces the assertion in the Statement. This uses internal names and forcing only; no -generic over the universe was postulated.
Remarks
- “Kills” means destroys the Suslin property, not the tree or its height. The specializing map itself rules out a new cofinal branch, so the forced tree is still Aronszajn.
- Preservation of alone does not exhibit an uncountable fiber. The proof also uses ZFC in the extension to make a countable union of countable fibers countable and then uses the cofinal node-height set.
Depends on
- Aronszajn, Suslin and special trees
- Finite specializing conditions
- Finite specialization of an Aronszajn tree is ccc
- Dense domains and directed unions of specializing conditions
- Chain conditions preserve high cofinalities and ccc preserves cardinals
- Assuming countable choice: every at most countable subset of $\omega_1$ is bounded below $\omega_1$, so no at most countable subset of $\omega_1$ is cofinal in it, and a supremum of at most countably many at most countable ordinals is at most countable
- Countable unions of at most countable sets, assuming $\mathrm{AC}_\omega$
- Valuation of names and M[G]
- Check-name evaluation and reconstruction of G
- Monotonicity, density, and decision for forcing
- Forcing theorem
- Generic extensions satisfy ZF and preserve ground-model Choice
- The Axiom of Choice
Used by
Dependency tree · two levels
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Sources
- Monk, Set theory following Jech, Lemma 16.37 and Theorem 16.38 with complete proofs, printed p. 332 (standard reference, not scraped)