No label defined (Q4379929)

A stepping up result in infinitary combinatorics means taking a combinatorial property that holds for sets of size \(\kappa\) (where \(\kappa\) is an infinite cardinal), and using it to show that the corresponding property holds for sets of size \({\kappa}^+\). Let \((C_{\alpha} ; \alpha<{\kappa}^+)\) be a sequence of sets such that \(C_{\alpha}\) is closed and unbounded in \(\alpha\), and \(C_{\alpha+1}= \{\alpha\}\). \textit{S. Todorcevic} [Acta Math. 159, 261-294 (1987; Zbl 0658.03028)] defined several functions \(\rho\) associated with such a sequence, and used these functions for specific stepping up results. He commented in this paper on their potential for use in further stepping up type results. The paper under review provides an exposition of how to use these \(\rho\)-functions, as well as a survey of some of the stepping up results that have subsequently been established with their aid. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0881.00034].