View source for Categoricity in cardinality

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''$\kappa$''

The property of a class of algebraic systems (models) requiring that all systems of cardinality $\kappa$ of the class be isomorphic. A first-order theory $T$ is said to be categorical in cardinality $\kappa$ if all models of cardinality $\kappa$ of $T$ are isomorphic. For a countable complete theory $T$, categoricity in countable cardinality (in $\aleph_0$) holds if and only if there exists, for any natural number $n$, a finite set $F_n$ of formulas of the language of $T$ with free variables $x_1,\dotsc,x_n$ such that any formula of the language with free variables $x_1,\dotsc,x_n$ is equivalent in the theory $T$ to one of the formulas of $F_n$. The collection of axioms:

1) $x<y\to\neg(y<x)$,

2) $(x<y\mathbin{\&}y<z)\to x<z$,

3) $x<y\lor x=y\lor y<x$,

4) $\exists u\exists v\exists t(x<y\to u<x<v<y<t)$, defines a theory $T_0$ of dense linear orderings which is categorical in $\aleph_0$, but is non-categorical in all uncountable cardinalities. The theory $T_1$ of algebraically closed fields of characteristic zero is categorical in all uncountable cardinalities, but is not categorical in $\aleph_0$. The following general theorem holds: If a first-order countable theory $T$ is categorical in some uncountable cardinality, then it is categorical in all uncountable cardinalities. This result generalizes to uncountable theories $T$ on replacing the condition of uncountable cardinality by cardinality greater than that of $T$. By a quasi-identity one means the universal closure of a formula

$$(Q_0\mathbin{\&}\dotsb\mathbin{\&}Q_n)\to P,$$

where $Q_i$ and $P$ are atomic formulas. For countable theories $T'$ which are axiomatized by means of quasi-identities, there is an even smaller distribution of possible categoricities: If such a theory $T'$ is categorical in countable cardinality, then it is categorical in all infinite cardinalities. If one appends to the axiom of the theory $T_0$ axioms for constants $c_i$:

$5_i$) $c_i<c_{i+1}$, where $i$ runs through the natural numbers, then the theory $T_3$ so obtained has exactly three countable models (up to isomorphism), since only three cases are possible: the set $\{c_0,c_1,\dotsc\}$ has no upper bound, has an upper bound but no least upper bound, or has a least upper bound. If for two countable models $M_1$ and $M_2$ of the theory $T_3$ the same one of the above three cases applies, then $M_1$ is isomorphic to $M_2$. Among theories which are categorical in uncountable cardinalities it is impossible to obtain an analogue of the above example. Thus, if a first-order theory $T$ is categorical in uncountable cardinality, then the number of countable models of $T$ (up to isomorphism) is either 1 or infinite.

====References====
<table><TR><TD valign="top">[1]</TD> <TD valign="top">  G.E. Sacks,   "Saturated model theory" , Benjamin  (1972)</TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top">[2]</TD> <TD valign="top">  E.A. Palyutin,   "Description of categorical quasivarieties"  ''Algebra and Logic'' , '''14'''  (1976)  pp. 86–111  ''Algebra i Logika'' , '''14'''  (1975)  pp. 145–185</TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top">[3]</TD> <TD valign="top">  S. Shelah,   "Categoricity of uncountable theories" , ''Proc. Tarski Symp.'' , ''Proc. Symp. Pure Math.'' , '''25''' :  2  (1974)  pp. 187–203</TD></TR></table>



====Comments====
The definition of a quasi-identity can also be found in [[Algebraic systems, quasi-variety of|Algebraic systems, quasi-variety of]].

The  "general theorem"  mentioned in the text was conjectured by J. Łoś [[#References|[a1]]], to whom the term  "categoricity"  is due, and proved by M.D. Morley [[#References|[a2]]].

====References====
<table><TR><TD valign="top">[a1]</TD> <TD valign="top">  J. Łoś,   "On the categoricity in power of elementary deductive systems and some related problems"  ''Colloq. Math.'' , '''3'''  (1954)  pp. 58–62</TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top">[a2]</TD> <TD valign="top">  M. Morely,   "Categoricity in power"  ''Trans. Amer. Math. Soc.'' , '''114'''  (1965)  pp. 514–538</TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top">[a3]</TD> <TD valign="top">  C.C. Chang,   H.J. Keisler,   "Model theory" , North-Holland  (1973)</TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top">[a4]</TD> <TD valign="top">  S. Shelah,   "Classification theory and the number of non-isomorphic models" , North-Holland  (1978)</TD></TR></table>