Reflection ranks and ordinal analysis

DOI10.1017/JSL.2020.9MaRDI QIDQ6301219arXivFDO

Authors Fedor N. Pakhomov, James Walsh

Publication date 5 May 2018

Published in arXiv

Full work available at URL https://doi.org/10.1017/JSL.2020.9

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Recursive ordinals and ordinal notations (03F15) Second- and higher-order arithmetic and fragments (03F35)

arXiv classification

math.LO

Abstract: It is well-known that natural axiomatic theories are well-ordered by consistency strength. However, it is possible to construct descending chains of artificial theories with respect to consistency strength. We provide an explanation of this well-orderness phenomenon by studying a coarsening of the consistency strength order, namely, the $P{i}_1^1$ reflection strength order. We prove that there are no descending sequences of $P{i}_1^1$ sound extensions of $mathsf{ACA}_0$ in this order. Accordingly, we can attach a rank in this order, which we call reflection rank, to any $P{i}_1^1$ sound extension of $mathsf{ACA}_0$. We prove that for any $P{i}_1^1$ sound theory $T$ extending $mathsf{ACA}_0^{+}$, the reflection rank of $T$ equals the proof-theoretic ordinal of $T$. We also prove that the proof-theoretic ordinal of $alpha$ iterated $P{i}_1^1$ reflection is $varepsilo{n}_{a}lpha$. Finally, we use our results to provide straightforward well-foundedness proofs of ordinal notation systems based on reflection principles.

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