On singular stationarity. I: Mutual stationarity and ideal-based methods (Q2326660)

The concept of \textit{mutual stationarity} was introduced by \textit{M. Foreman} and \textit{M. Magidor} [Acta Math. 186, No. 2, 271--300 (2001; Zbl 1017.03022)]. Of particular interest to Foreman and Magidor and to the author of the paper under review are sequences of stationary sets $\langle S_n\mid n<\omega\rangle$ where $S_n\subset\omega_n$. Such a sequence is said to be \textit{mutually stationary} if for every algebra $\mathfrak A$ on $\aleph_\omega$, there exists an $M\prec \mathfrak A$ such that $\sup(M\cap \omega_n)\in S_n$ for every $\omega_n\in M$. Imposing the further condition that $S_n\subset \text{Cof}(\omega)$, Foreman and Magidor [loc. cit.] establish that the mutual stationarity of such a sequence is a theorem of ZFC. However, they also show that in $L$ there is a sequence of stationary sets $\langle S_n\mid 2\leq n<\omega\rangle$ with $S_n\subset \omega_n\cap\text{Cof}(\omega_1)$ that is not mutually stationary. This latter result raises the question of whether one can consistently assert the mutual stationarity of all such sequences with fixed cofinality $\omega_1$. The author of the present paper proves three consistency theorems. The paper's main theorem provides a positive answer to this question. Main Theorem: It is consistent relative to the existence of infinitely many supercompact cardinals that every sequence of stationary subsets $S_n\subset\omega_n$ of some fixed cofinality is mutually stationary. Here is a rough sketch of the proof: starting with a model with infinitely many supercompact cardinals a generic extension is produced where for every appropriate algebra $\mathfrak A$ and stationary sequence of the relevant form, the requisite $M\prec\mathfrak A$ is produced as the end result of an inductively defined increasing sequence of substructures $\langle M_n\mid k+1<n<\omega \rangle$ which are $\omega_k$-closed and of size $\aleph_k$. To achieve the inductive construction of the $M_k$, the author shows that his generic extension satisfies what he calls the \textit{end-extension property}. Without further comment we list the two other consistency results in the paper. Theorem. The assertion that every sequence of stationary sets $S_n\subset \omega_{2n+1}$ of common fixed cofinality is mutually stationary, is consistent relative to the existence of infinitely many supercompact cardinals $\langle\kappa_n\mid n<\omega\rangle$ such that each $\kappa_n$ carries a $\langle\ast,\kappa^{+}_{n-1}\rangle$ sequence of measures. Theorem. It is consistent relative to the existence of infinitely many supercompact cardinals that for every $k<\omega$, for every sequence $\langle S_n\mid k<n<\omega \rangle$ of stationary sets $S_n\subset\omega_n\rangle$ which consists of ordinals of cofinalities $\omega$ or $\omega_k$, the sequence is mutually stationary.