imaginaries


Given an algebraic structurePlanetmathPlanetmath S to investigate, mathematicians consider substructures, restrictionsPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath of the structureMathworldPlanetmath, quotient structures and the like. A natural question for a mathematician to ask if he is to understand S is “What structures naturally live in S?” We can formalise this question in the following manner: Given some logic appropriate to the structure S, we say another structure T is definable in S iff there is some definable subset T of Sn, a bijection σ:TT and a definable function (respectively relationMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath) on T for each function (resp. relation) on T so that σ is an isomorphismMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath (of the relevant type for T).

For an example take some infinite group (G,.). Consider the centre of G, Z:={xG:yG(xy=yx)}. Then Z is a first order definable subset of G, which forms a group with the restriction of the multiplication, so (Z,.) is a first order definable structure in (G,.).

As another example consider the structure (𝐑,+,.,0,1) as a field. Then the structure (𝐑,<) is first order definable in the structure (𝐑,+,.,0,1) as for all x,y𝐑2 we have xy iff z(z2=y-x). Thus we know that (𝐑,+,.,0,1) is unstable as it has a definable order on an infinite subset.

Returning to the first example, Z is normal in G, so the set of (left) cosets of Z form a factor group. The domain of the factor group is the quotient of G under the equivalence relationMathworldPlanetmath xy iff zZ(xz=y). Therefore the factor group G/Z will not (in general) be a definable structure, but would seem to be a “natural” structure. We therefore weaken our formalisation of “natural” from definable to interpretable. Here we require that a structure is isomorphic to some definable structure on equivalence classesMathworldPlanetmath of definable equivalence relations. The equivalence classes of a -definable equivalence relation are called imaginaries.

In [2] Poizat defined the property of Elimination of Imaginaries. This is equivalentMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath to the following definition:

Definition 0.1

A structure A with at least two distinct -definable elements admits elimination of imaginaries iff for every nN and -definable equivalence relation on An there is a -definable function f:AnAp (for some p) such that for all x and y from An we have

xy iff f(x)=f(y).

Given this property, we think of the function f as coding the equivalence classes of , and we call f(x) a code for x/. If a structure has elimination of imaginaries then every interpretable structure is definable.

In [3] Shelah defined, for any structure 𝔄 a multi-sorted structure 𝔄eq. This is done by adding a sort for every -definable equivalence relation, so that the equivalence classes are elements (and code themselves). This is a closure operatorPlanetmathPlanetmath i.e. 𝔄eq has elimination of imaginaries. See [1] chapter 4 for a good presentationMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath of imaginaries and 𝔄eq. The idea of passing to 𝔄eq is very useful for many purposes. Unfortunately 𝔄eq has an unwieldy languagePlanetmathPlanetmath and theory. Also this approach does not answer the question above. We would like to show that our structure has elimination of imaginaries with just a small selection of sorts added, and perhaps in a simple language. This would allow us to describe the definable structures more easily, and as we have elimination of imaginaries this would also describe the interpretable structures.

References

  • 1 Wilfrid Hodges, A shorter model theoryMathworldPlanetmath Cambridge University Press, 1997.
  • 2 Bruno Poizat, Une théorie de Galois imaginaire, Journal of Symbolic Logic, 48 (1983), pp. 1151-1170.
  • 3 Saharon Shelah, Classification Theory and the Number of Non-isomorphic Models, North Hollans, Amsterdam, 1978.
Title imaginaries
Canonical name Imaginaries
Date of creation 2013-03-22 13:25:50
Last modified on 2013-03-22 13:25:50
Owner mathcam (2727)
Last modified by mathcam (2727)
Numerical id 7
Author mathcam (2727)
Entry type Definition
Classification msc 03C95
Classification msc 03C68
Related topic CyclicCode
Defines imaginaries
Defines elimination of imaginaries
Defines definable structure
Defines interpretable structure
Defines code