Tree \(\pi\)-bases for \(\beta N-N\) in various models (Q911086)

Let \(N^*\) denote the Čech-Stone remainder of the discrete space N. It is known that \(N^*\) has a \(\pi\)-base which forms a tree when ordered by reverse inclusion [\textit{B. Balcar}, \textit{J. Pelant} and \textit{P. Simon}, Fundam. Math. 110, 11-24 (1980; Zbl 0568.54004)]. This interesting fact can be used to study the Novák number n of \(N^*\), i.e., the minimum cardinality of a family of nowhere dense sets covering \(N^*\). Let h denote the minimum height of a tree \(\pi\)-base of \(N^*\). It is known that h is equal to the weak Novák number of \(N^*\), i.e., the minimum number of nowhere dense sets with dense union. A Parovičenko space is a compact zero-dimensional F-space of weight c in which each nonempty \(G_{\delta}\) has infinite interior. It is known that under CH all Parovičenko spaces are homeomorphic to \(N^*\), that every Parovičenko space has a tree \(\pi\)-base, and that two Parovičenko spaces are coabsolute (i.e., have isomorphic regular open algebras) iff they have isomorphic tree \(\pi\)-bases. There exist non- coabsolute Parovičenko spaces in various models, but they were produced with different Novák or weak Novák numbers. (It is obvious that coabsolute spaces have the same Novák and weak Novák numbers.) In this very interesting paper the author presents among other things examples of non-coabsolute Parovičenko spaces having the same Novák and weak Novák numbers. He also produces a model in which \(n=h=\omega_ 2\) and computes some of the other ``small'' cardinals related to \(N^*\) in a few of the more common forcing extensions.