Filters and Ideal Independence

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of maximal ideal independent families, explores their cardinal characteristics, and demonstrates their consistency and behavior under various forcing extensions.

Contribution

It defines maximal ideal independent families, establishes their relation to other cardinal invariants, and constructs models with specified sizes of such families using forcing techniques.

Findings

Proves $u \u2264 s_{mm}$, showing independence from i.

Constructs models with maximal ideal independent families of various cardinalities.

Analyzes the behavior of s_{mm} under different forcing extensions.

Abstract

A family $\mathscr{I} \subseteq [\omega]^\omega$ such that for all finite $\{X_i\}_{i\in n}\subseteq \mathcal I$ and $A \in \mathscr{I} \setminus \{X_i\}_{i\in n}$, the set $A \setminus \bigcup_{i < n} X_i$ is infinite, is said to be ideal independent. An ideal independent family which is maximal under inclusion is said to be a maximal ideal independent family and the least cardinality of such family is denoted $\mathfrak{s}_{mm}$. We show that $\mathfrak{u}\leq\mathfrak{s}_{mm}$, which in particular establishes the independence of $\mathfrak{s}_{mm}$ and $\mathfrak{i}$. Given an arbitrary set $C$ of uncountable cardinals, we show how to simultaneously adjoin via forcing maximal ideal independent families of cardinality $\lambda$ for each $\lambda\in C$, thus establishing the consistency of $C\subseteq \hbox{spec}(\mathfrak{s}_{mm})$. Assuming $\mathsf{CH}$, we construct a maximal ideal independent family, which remains maximal after forcing with any proper, $^\omega\omega$-bounding, $p$-point preserving forcing notion and evaluate $\mathfrak{s}_{mm}$ in several well studied forcing extensions.