Set-theoretic geology (Q2514847)

The authors examine the set-theoretic geology of a universe of sets \(V\), that is, a model of set theory. A proper inner model \(M\) of \(V\) is called a \textit{ground} of \(V\) if \(V=M[G]\) for some \(G\) that is \(\mathbb{P}\)-generic over \(M\), where \(\mathbb{P}\) is a poset in \(M\). The \textit{ground axiom} (GA) asserts that \(V\) is without ground; that is, every proper inner model of \(V\) is not a ground of \(V\). Reitz has shown that GA is expressible by a first-order sentence. An inner model \(W\) is called a \textit{bedrock} for \(V\), if \(W\) is a ground without ground; that is, \(W\) is a ground of \(V\) and \(W\) satisfies the ground axiom. Can a model \(V\) have more than one bedrock? The authors note that the answer to this question is unknown. In this well-written paper, the authors investigate the structure of the grounds of \(V\) and how these grounds relate to the grounds of forcing extensions of \(V\). This investigation involves the following concept: The \textit{mantle} of \(V\) is the intersection of all of the grounds of \(V\). Does the mantle satisfy ZFC (ZF)? The answer to this question is also unknown. On the other hand, the main theorem of the paper states that ``every model of ZFC is the mantle of another model of ZFC.'' The authors also discuss other such interesting notions such as the generic mantle and the generic HOD.