Infinite Hausdorff spaces may lack cellular families or discrete subsets of cardinality \(\aleph_0\) (Q1985621)

In this paper, the author investigates relations between the existence of countable cellular families or discrete subspaces of infinite Hausdorff spaces (which exist in ZFC), and weaker forms of the axiom of choice. In what follows, \(\text{MC}\) is the axiom of multiple choice, \(\text{DF}=F\) stand for ``a set is finite iff it is Dedekind-finite'', \(\text{wDF}=F\) ``a set is finite iff it is weakly Dedekind-finite'', \(\text{AC}^{\aleph_0}\) is the axiom of countable choice. \(\text{IHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\)/\(\text{IEHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\)/\(\text{ISHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\)/\(\text{ICSHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\)] stands for ``every infinite (Hausdorff)/(effectively Hausdorff)/(scattered Hausdorff)/(compact scattered Hausdorff) space has an infinite countable cellular family''. \(\text{ISHS}(\text{reldiscr}, \aleph_0)\)/ \(\text{ICSHS}(\text{reldiscr}, \aleph_0)\)/\(\text{DHS}(\text{reldiscr}, \aleph_0)\) stand for ``Every (infinite scattered)/(infinite compact scattered)/(denumerable) Hausdorff space has an infinite countable relatively discrete subspace''. Some of the results (but not all) are: -- \(\text{MC}\) implies \(\text{IHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\), which implies \(\text{IEHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\) which implies \(\text{wDF}=F\). -- \(\text{AC}^{\aleph_0}\) implies \(\text{IHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\). -- \(\text{ISHS}(\text{reldiscr}, \aleph_0)\), \(\text{ICSHS}(\text{reldiscr}, \aleph_0)\) and \(\text{DF}=\text{F}\) are all equivalent. -- \(\text{DF}=\text{F}\) implies \(\text{ISHS}(\text{cell},\aleph_0)\). -- \(\text{ICSHS}(\text{cell}, \aleph_0)\) implies \(\text{wDF}=\text{F}\). Some models as the second Fraenkel model (\(\mathcal N2\) in [\textit{P. Howard} and \textit{J. E. Rubin}, Consequences of the axiom of choice. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (1998; Zbl 0947.03001)]), the Fraenkel-Mostowski model of ZFA and the Mostowski model (\(\mathcal N3\) in [\textit{P. Howard} and \textit{J. E. Rubin}, Consequences of the axiom of choice. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (1998; Zbl 0947.03001)]) are analyzed to show that some implications cannot me reversed or achieved in general. The author also makes considerations about set theories with atoms. The author also constructs a model of ZF where there exists a dense-in-itself, zero-dimensional, Hausdorff topology on \(\omega\) with infinite countable spread and cellularity but with no infinite discrete subsets. In particular, this shows that \(\text{DHS}(\text{reldiscr}, \aleph_0)\) is not provable in ZF. To obtain this model, first \(\omega\) Cohen-reals are added. Then \(\text{HOD}(\mathcal B)\) of the resulting model is considered, where \(\mathcal B\) is the Boolean algebra generated by the Cohen reals. The proofs are detailed and very comprehensive. In the end, a nice diagram summarizing the main results of the paper is presented.