Filtration-equivalent \(\aleph_1\)-separable Abelian groups of cardinality \(\aleph_1\). (Q636335)

In the present paper the authors show in Theorem 2.4 that it is consistent with ZFC + GCH that there exists two \(\aleph_1\)-separable Abelian groups (i.e. every countable subgroup is contained in a free direct summand) \(G_1\) and \(G_2\) of cardinality \(\aleph_1\) which are filtration equivalent such that one is a Whitehead group (i.e. \(\mathrm{Ext}(G_1,\mathbb Z)=0\)) and the other is not (\(\mathrm{Ext}(G_2,\mathbb Z)\neq 0\)). This solves an open problem stated in the book of \textit{P. C. Eklof} and \textit{A. H. Mekler} [Almost free modules. Set-theoretic methods. Revised ed. North-Holland Mathematical Library 65. Amsterdam: North-Holland (2002; Zbl 1054.20037)]. In order to construct these groups the authors use special ladder systems.