Small embedding characterizations for large cardinals (Q1625597)

Given a cardinal \(\kappa < \theta,\) a non-trivial elementary embedding \(j: M\rightarrow H(\theta)\) is a small embedding for \(\kappa\) if \(M \in H(\theta)\) is transitive and \(j(\operatorname{crit}(j))=\kappa,\) where \(\operatorname{crit}(j)\) is the critical point of \(j\). A classical theorem of \textit{M. Magidor} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 42, 279--285 (1974; Zbl 0279.02050)] gives a characterization of a supercompact cardinal \(\kappa\) based on the existence of suitable small embedding for \(\kappa\). In the paper under review, the authors continue this investigation and provide a small embedding characterization for a wide range of large cardinals. Let us mention a few of them: {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[{\(\bullet\)}] \(\kappa\) is regular and uncountable iff for all sufficiently large cardinals \(\theta\), there is a small embedding \(j: M \rightarrow H(\theta)\) for \(\kappa\). \item[{\(\bullet\)}] \(\kappa\) is inaccessible iff for all sufficiently large cardinals \(\theta\), there is a small embedding \(j: M \rightarrow H(\theta)\) for \(\kappa\), such that \(\operatorname{crit}(j)\) is a strong limit cardinal. \item[{\(\bullet\)}] \(\kappa\) is \(\Pi^1_n\)-indescribable (where \(0<n<\omega\)) iff for all sufficiently large cardinals \(\theta\), there is a small embedding \(j: M \rightarrow H(\theta)\) for \(\kappa\) such that \(H(\operatorname{crit}(j)^+)^M \prec_{\Sigma_n} H(\operatorname{crit}(j)^+)\). \item[{\(\bullet\)}] \(\kappa\) is a measurable cardinal iff for all sufficiently large cardinals \(\theta\), there is a small embedding \(j: M \rightarrow H(\theta)\) for \(\kappa\) such that \(\mathcal{U}=\{ A \in M: A \subseteq \operatorname{crit}(j),\) and \(\operatorname{crit}(j) \in j(A)\} \in M\). \end{itemize}} Similar characterization theorems, based on small embeddings, are given for some other large cardinals. The authors use their new characterization theorems to provide new proofs for some results of \textit{C. Weiß} [Ann. Pure Appl. Logic 163, No. 11, 1710--1717 (2012; Zbl 1280.03051)] and \textit{M. Viale} and \textit{C. Weiß} [Adv. Math. 228, No. 5, 2672--2687 (2011; Zbl 1251.03059)].