On the algebra of elementary embeddings of a rank into itself (Q1842231)

For \(\lambda\) a limit ordinal \({\mathcal E}_ \lambda\) is the set of non- identity elementary embeddings from the rank universe \(V_ \lambda\) into itself. The assertion that \({\mathcal E}_ \lambda\) is non-empty is a strong large cardinal axiom. In addition to the usual composition, \(j\circ k\), of mappings, the elements of \({\mathcal E}_ \lambda\) can be ``multiplied''. The multiplication \(j\cdot k\) is nonassociative, noncommutative, and satisfies a left distributive law. For \(j\in {\mathcal E}_ \lambda\), \({\mathcal A}_ j\) is the closure of \(\{j\}\) under \(\cdot\) and \({\mathcal P}_ j\) is its closure under both \(\cdot\) and \(\circ\). In the paper reviewed above, the author proved that \({\mathcal A}_ j\) is the free left distributive algebra on one generator and that \({\mathcal P}_ j\) is the free algebra on one generator in a certain variety. For \(j\in {\mathcal E}_ \lambda\), \(\text{cr } j\) denotes the critical point of \(j\) and \(\text{cr } {\mathcal A}_ j= \{\text{cr } k\): \(k\in {\mathcal A}_ j\}\). Let \(\kappa_ n= \text{cr} (j^ n j)\), and let \(f\) be the function such that \(f(n)\) = the cardinality of \(\{\gamma\in \text{cr } {\mathcal A}_ j\): \(\kappa_ n< \gamma< \kappa_{n+1}\}\). It is reported that an upper bound for \(f(3)\) has not been computed and that \textit{R. Dougherty} [Ann. Pure Appl. Logic 65, No. 3, 211-241 (1993; Zbl 0791.03028)] has calculated a very large lower bound and shown that \(f\) eventually dominates the Ackermann function. In this paper the author proves the previously missing result that \(f(n)\) is finite for all \(n\); i.e., he proves that the order type of \(\text{cr } {\mathcal A}_ j\) is \(\omega\). This follows from arguments in this paper and results of \textit{J. R. Steel} [J. Symb. Logic 58, No. 3, 931-940 (1993; Zbl 0804.03038)].