Ramsey algebras and the existence of idempotent ultrafilters (Q283116)

A Ramsey algebra is an algebra satisfying certain Ramsey-type properties, such as Hindman's theorem. This notion was first suggested by \textit{T. J. Carlson} [Discrete Math. 68, No. 2--3, 117--169 (1988; Zbl 0817.04002)] and then formally introduced by the author's recent works [J. Math. Log. 16, No. 2, Article ID 1650005, 16 p. (2016; Zbl 1352.05020); Notre Dame J. Formal Logic 58, No. 1, 115--125 (2017; Zbl 1355.05244); Bull. Malays. Math. Sci. Soc. (2) 37, No. 4, 931--938 (2014; Zbl 06371283)]. In this paper, the author presents a framework for studying idempotent ultrafilters (see Definition 16), especially in its connection with Ramsey algebras. The main concern of this paper is an open question raised by Carlson [loc. cit.]: Does every Ramsey algebra carry an idempotent ultrafilter. For this, the author introduced the notion of admissible family (Definition 11) and the notion of strongly reducible (\(\mathfrak A\)-)ultrafilter for a collection of operations \(\mathcal F\) (Definition 9 and 17), and showed that for admissible families \(\mathfrak A\) (see Definition 11), every strongly reducible \(\mathfrak A\)-ultrafilter (see Definition 12) is idempotent. This leads to the main theorem: Theorem 11. Assume \((\omega, \mathcal F)\) is a nondegenerate Ramsey algebra and \(\mathcal F\) is countable. Suppose \(S_n\) is a countable collection of subsets of \(\omega^n\) for every \(n \geq 1\). Then there exists an admissible \({\mathfrak A} = \{{\mathcal A}_n\}_{n\geq 1}\) such that (1) \(\mathcal A_n\) is countable superset of \(S_n\) for every \(n \geq 1\); (2) \(\mathcal F\) is a collection of \(\mathfrak A\)-operations; (3) there exists a nonprincipal \(\mathfrak A\)-ultrafilter \(U\) strongly reducible for \(\mathcal F\).