Free sequences in \({\mathscr{P}}( \omega) /\mathrm{fin}\) (Q2274146)

A free sequence in a Boolean algebra, as defined in [\textit{J. D. Monk}, Commentat. Math. Univ. Carol. 52, No. 4, 593--610 (2011; Zbl 1249.06034)], is a sequence \(\langle a_\alpha:\alpha<\gamma\rangle\) of elements such that for every \(\beta\le\gamma\) the set \(\{a_\alpha:\alpha<\beta\}\cup\{a_\alpha':\beta\le\alpha<\gamma\}\) is centered. It is maximal if it has no free end-extension. Though the order(-type) of the sequence is important in this definition the cardinal number \(\mathfrak f(B)\) is defined to be the minimum \textit{cardinality\/} of a free sequence in the algebra \(B\); if \(B=\mathcal{P}(\omega)/\mathrm{fin}\), then one simply writes \(\mathfrak f\). After making some remarks on free sequences in \(\mathcal{P}(\omega)/\mathrm{fin}\) and indicating how much is still unknown the authors show the consistency of \(\mathfrak i=\mathfrak f<\mathfrak u\), where \(\mathfrak i\) is the minimum cardinality of a maximal independent family and \(\mathfrak u\) is the minimum character of an ultrafilter. They show that this holds in \textit{S. Shelah}'s model for \(\mathfrak i<\mathfrak u\) from [Arch. Math. Logic 31, No. 6, 433--443 (1992; Zbl 0785.03029)] and give a self-contained presentation of this model. An independent family is a free sequence no matter how it is ordered and one would expect some relation between \(\mathfrak i\) and \(\mathfrak f\) to hold; the Miller model satisfies \(\mathfrak f<\mathfrak i\) but it is not (yet) known whether \(\mathfrak i<\mathfrak f\) is consistent.