The \(\gamma\)-Borel conjecture (Q1778062)

A set of reals \(X\) has {strong measure zero} if for each sequence of positive reals \(\epsilon_n\), \(n\in\mathbb{N}\), there exists for each \(n\) an interval \(I_n\) of length at most \(\epsilon_n\) such that \(X\subseteq\bigcup_n I_n\). Borel, who introduced this property, conjectured that only countable sets possess it. \textit{R. Laver} [``On the consistency of Borel's conjecture'', Acta Math. 137 (1976), 151--169 (1977; Zbl 0357.28003)] proved that this conjecture is consistent. A (nontrivial) open cover \(\mathcal{U}\) of \(X\) is an {\(\omega\)-cover} of \(X\) if every finite subset of \(X\) is contained in an element of \(\mathcal{U}\). \(\mathcal{U}\) is a {\(\gamma\)-cover} of \(X\) if \(\mathcal{U}\) is infinite and each element of \(X\) is contained in all but finitely many members of \(\mathcal{U}\). \(X\) is a {\(\gamma\)-set} if each open \(\omega\)-cover of \(X\) contains a \(\gamma\)-cover of \(X\). These notions were introduced by \textit{J. Gerlits} and \textit{Zs. Nagy} [``Some properties of \(C(X)\). I'', Topology Appl. 14, 151--161 (1982; Zbl 0503.54020)]. Every \(\gamma\)-set has strong measure zero, and Szeptycki asked whether it is consistent that ``all \(\gamma\)-sets are countable but there are uncountable strong measure zero sets''. The author gives a positive answer: If the Hechler forcing (for adding a dominating real) is iterated \(\aleph_2\) times with finite support over a model of CH, then in the resulting model every \(\gamma\)-set is countable but every set of reals of cardinality \(\aleph_1\) has strong measure zero. (In fact, in this model there are also strong measure zero sets of size continuum.) The author also proves that if all \(C''\) sets of reals are countable (\(C''\), {Rothberger's property}, is stronger than strong measure zero but weaker than being a \(\gamma\)-set), then Borel's Conjecture holds. (This is slightly extended by \textit{B. Tsaban} and \textit{T. Weiss} [``Products of special sets of real numbers'', Real Anal. Exch. (to appear)].)