Strong cardinals in the core model (Q5961724)

The paper studies strong cardinals in the core model. The present paper (quoting the authors) is not concerned with pushing at the boundaries of known core models. Nor is it relevant to sharpening the tools from Steel, or any of the covering theorems, or correctness results. This paper is in some sense a pause, returning to the much earlier problem of attempting to understand the core model theory at the level just beyond the level of one strong cardinal, when overlapping extenders make their appearance for the first time, and certain types of descriptive set theoretical phenomena are seen in their simplest form. Authors work with Steel's core model under the assumption that there is no inner class model for a Woodin cardinal. They prove, for instance, that, if there is no \(<\omega_1^V\) strong cardinal in the Steel core model, then \(K\cap HC\) is projective, and many other interesting things.