Uncountable critical points for congruence lattices (Q2520762)

The critical point between two classes \(K\) and \(L\) of algebras is the cardinality of the smallest semilattice isomorphic to the semilattice of compact congruences of some algebra in \(K\), but not in \(L\). The paper is interested in the case when \(K\) and \(L\) are varieties of algebras. For the most of pairs of varieties, the critical point is either finite or \(\aleph_0\). Examples with uncountable critical point are quite rare. The first examples with critical point \(\aleph_2\) was exihibited by the author in [Colloq. Math. 83, No. 1, 71--84 (2000; Zbl 0961.06006); Topology Appl. 131, No. 1, 1--14 (2003; Zbl 1036.54014)]. The first example with critical point \(\aleph_4\) was presented by \textit{P. Gillibert} [Int. J. Algebra Comput. 19, No. 1, 1--40 (2009; Zbl 1172.08001)]. The paper under review is devoted to the problem of determining the critical point between two finitely generated congruence distributive varieties. A criterion is given and the author uses it to prove that the critical point between finitely generated congruence distributive varieties is less or equal to \(\aleph_1\). Two new examples with the critical point equal to \(\aleph_1\) are presented.