On a question of Silver about gap-two cardinal transfer principles (Q684222)

The authors answer a question of Silver about particular gap-2-cardinal transfer principles. First some notation: Let \(\mathcal L\) be a first-order language, containing a unary predicate \(U\). \(\mathcal M=(M, U^{\mathcal M}, \ldots)\) is a \((\kappa, \lambda)\) model for \(\mathcal L\), if \(|M|=\kappa\) and \(|U^{\mathcal M}|=\lambda\). The transfer principle \((\kappa, \lambda)\rightarrow (\kappa^{\prime}, \lambda^{\prime})\) holds if whenever a first-order \(\mathcal L\)-theory \(T\) has a \((\kappa, \lambda)\) model it also has a \((\kappa^{\prime}, \lambda^{\prime})\) model. For \(n\geq1\), the \textit{gap-n-cardinal principle} is the assertion that \((\kappa^{+n}, \kappa)\rightarrow (\lambda^{+n}, \lambda)\) for every \(\kappa\) and \(\lambda\). \textit{J. Silver} [in: Axiomatic Set Theory, Proc. Sympos. Pure Math. 13, Part I, 383--390 (1971; Zbl 0255.02068)] asked the following question: Is it consistent with GCH that both transfer principles \((\aleph_3, \aleph_1)\rightarrow (\aleph_2, \aleph_0)\) and \((\aleph_2, \aleph_0)\rightarrow (\aleph_3, \aleph_1)\) fail simultaneously? The authors quickly show, assuming an inaccessible cardinal, that in the absence of GCH such simultaneous failure is possible. However in regard to the original question, the authors, assuming the existence of a Mahlo cardinal, describe a generic extension of Gödel's constructible universe \(L\) where GCH holds and the cardinal principles designated by Silver fail simultaneously. The authors then prove a model-theoretic result that allows them to extend their answer to Silver's question to higher gaps. The resulting generic extension of \(L\) satisfies GCH and for all \(n\geq2\), \((\aleph_n, \aleph_0)\rightarrow (\aleph_{n+1} \aleph_1)\) and \((\aleph_{n+1}, \aleph_1)\rightarrow (\aleph_n, \aleph_0)\) fail simultaneously In the paper's final section, the authors state two open questions about gap principles.