Ultrafilters with small generating sets (Q1823240)

Let \({\mathcal U}\) be a nonprincipal ultrafilter on \(\omega\). A subfamily \({\mathcal G}\) of \({\mathcal U}\) generates \({\mathcal U}\) if every \(A\in {\mathcal U}\) has a subset \(B\in {\mathcal G}\). The authors study the cardinal \[ u=\min \{| {\mathcal G}|:\quad {\mathcal G}\quad generates\quad an\quad ultrafilter\}. \] \(\aleph_ 1\leq u\leq 2^{\aleph_ 0}\) and Kunen has shown that it is consistent for u to be \(\aleph_ 1\) and \(\aleph_ 1<2^{\aleph_ 0}\). This paper concerns the relationship between u and the cardinal d where d is the minimum cardinality of a family of functions \({\mathcal D}\) such that every function from \(\omega\) to \(\omega\) is dominated by one in \({\mathcal D}\). The authors establish the consistency of \(u<d\). In fact they prove: For \(\nu\) and \(\delta\) uncountable regular cardinals in a model of \(ZF+GCH\) there is a countable chain condition forcing extension in which \(u=\nu\) and \(d=\delta\).