In this article we, given a free ultrafilter p on ω, consider the following classes of ultrafilters:(1) T(p) - the set of ultrafilters Rudin-Keisler equivalent to p,(2) S(p)={q ∈ ω*:∃ f ∈ ω ω , strictly increasing, such that q=f β (p)},(3) I(p) - the set of strong Rudin-Blass predecessors of p,(4) R(p) - the set of ultrafilters equivalent to p in the strong Rudin-Blass order,(5) P RB (p) - the set of Rudin-Blass predecessors of p, and(6) P RK (p) (...) - the set of Rudin-Keisler predecessors of p,and analyze relationships between them. We introduce the semi-P-points as those ultrafilters p ∈ ω* for which P RB (p)=P RK (p), and investigate their relations with P-points, weak-P-points and Q-points. In particular, we prove that for every semi-P-point p its α-th left power α p is a semi-P-point, and we prove that non-semi-P-points exist in ZFC. Further, we define an order ⊴ in T(p) by r⊴q if and only if r ∈ S(q). We prove that (S(p),⊴) is always downwards directed, (R(p),⊴) is always downwards and upwards directed, and (T(p),⊴) is linear if and only if p is selective.We also characterize rapid ultrafilters as those ultrafilters p ∈ ω* for which R(p)∖S(p) is a dense subset of ω*.A space X is M-pseudocompact (for ) if for every sequence (U n ) n < ω of disjoint open subsets of X, there are q ∈ M and x ∈ X such that x=q-lim (U n ); that is, for every neighborhood V of x. The P RK (p)-pseudocompact spaces were studied in [ST].In this article we analyze M-pseudocompactness when M is one of the classes S(p), R(p), T(p), I(p), P RB (p) and P RK (p). We prove that every Frolik space is S(p)-pseudocompact for every p ∈ ω*, and determine when a subspace with is M-pseudocompact. (shrink)

We prove constructively that, in order to derive the uniform continuity theorem for pointwise continuous mappings from a compact metric space into a metric space, it is necessary and sufficient to prove any of a number of equivalent conditions, such as that every pointwise continuous mapping of [0, 1] into R is bounded. The proofs are analytic, making no use of, for example, fan-theoretic ideas.

The definition of a pseudofinite structure can be translated verbatim into continuous logic, but it also gives rise to a stronger notion and to two parallel concepts of pseudocompactness. Our purpose is to investigate the relationship between these four concepts and establish or refute each of them for several basic theories in continuous logic. Pseudofiniteness and pseudocompactness turn out to be equivalent for relational languages with constant symbols, and the four notions coincide with the standard pseudofiniteness in the (...) case of classical structures, but the details appear to be slightly more important here than in the usual translation of definitions from classical logic. We also prove that injective “formula-definable” endofunctions are surjective, and conversely, in strongly pseudofinite omega-saturated structures. (shrink)

By utilizing the topological concept of pseudocompactness, we simplify and improve a proof of Caicedo, Dueñez, and Iovino concerning Terence Tao's metastability. We also pinpoint the exact relationship between the Omitting Types Theorem and the Baire Category Theorem by developing a machine that turns topological spaces into abstract logics.

Traditionally, the role of general topology in model theory has been mainly limited to the study of compacta that arise in first-order logic. In this context, the topology tends to be so trivial that it turns into combinatorics, motivating a widespread approach that focuses on the combinatorial component while usually hiding the topological one. This popular combinatorial approach to model theory has proved to be so useful that it has become rare to see more advanced topology in model-theoretic articles. Prof. (...) Franklin D. Tall has led the re-introduction of general topology as a valuable tool to push the boundaries of model theory. Most of this thesis is directly influenced by and builds on this idea.The first part of the thesis will answer a problem of T. Gowers on the undefinability of pathological Banach spaces such as Tsirelson space. The topological content of this chapter is centred around Grothendieck spaces.In a similar spirit, the second part will show a new connection between the notion of metastability introduced by T. Tao and the topological concept of pseudocompactness. We shall make use of this connection to show a result of X. Caicedo, E. Dueñez, J. Iovino in a much simplified manner.The third part of the thesis will carry a higher set-theoretic content as we shall use forcing and descriptive set theory to show that the well-known theorem of M. Morley on the trichotomy concerning the number of models of a first-order countable theory is undecidable if one considers second-order countable theories instead.The only part that did not originate from model-theoretic questions will be the fourth one. We show that $\operatorname {ZF} + \operatorname {DC} +$ “all Turing invariant sets of reals have the perfect set property” implies that all sets of reals have the perfect set property. We also show that this result generalizes to all countable analytic equivalence relations. This result provides evidence in favour of a long-standing conjecture asking whether Turing determinacy implies the axiom of determinacy.Abstract prepared by Clovis HamelE-mail: chamel@math.toronto.edu. (shrink)

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 $\mathcal {K}(M) \ge _T (G,\mathcal {K}(G))$. (shrink)

In this paper, we show that the existence of certain first-countable compact-like extensions is equivalent to the equality between corresponding cardinal characteristics of the continuum. For instance, $\mathfrak b=\mathfrak s=\mathfrak c$ if and only if every regular first-countable space of weight $< \mathfrak c$ can be densely embedded into a regular first-countable countably compact space.