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# The combinatorics of splittability

### 1. Introduction and basic facts

We consider infinite topological spaces which are homeomorphic to sets of real numbers (this is the case, e.g., for each separable and zero-dimensional metric space). We will refer to such spaces as *sets of reals*. Assume that $`X`$ is a set of reals. The following types of “thick” covers of $`X`$ were defined in the literature and studied under various guises (e.g., ). Let $`𝒰`$ be a collection of subsets of $`X`$ such that $`X`$ is not contained in any member of $`𝒰`$. $`𝒰`$ is:

1. A *large cover* of $`X`$ if each $`xX`$ is contained in infinitely many members of $`𝒰`$,
2. An *$`\omega `$-cover* of $`X`$ if each finite subset of $`X`$ is contained in some member of $`𝒰`$,
3. A *$`\tau `$-cover* of $`X`$ if it is a large cover of $`X`$, and for each $`x,yX`$, either $`\{U𝒰:xU,yU\}`$ is finite, or $`\{U𝒰:yU,xU\}`$ is finite; and
4. A $`\gamma `$-cover of $`X`$ if $`𝒰`$ is infinite, and each $`xX`$ belongs to all but finitely many members of $`𝒰`$.

Let $`\mathrm{\Lambda }`$, $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$, $`\mathrm{T}`$, and $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ denote the collections of open large covers, $`\omega `$-covers, $`\tau `$-covers, and $`\gamma `$-covers of $`X`$, respectively. Also, let $`_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ (respectively, $`C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{\Gamma }`$) be the corresponding *countable Borel* (respectively, *clopen*) covers of $`X`$. We will informally refer to all these collections as *collections of thick covers*. It is easy to see that

$$\mathrm{\Gamma }\mathrm{T}\mathrm{\Omega }\mathrm{\Lambda }.$$

Reverse inclusions need not hold. Consider the property $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{𝔘}{𝔙}\right)`$ (read: *$`𝔘`$ choose $`𝔙`$*), defined for collections of covers $`𝔘`$ and $`𝔙`$, which asserts that for each cover $`𝒰𝔘`$ there exists a subcover $`𝒱𝒰`$ such that $`𝒱𝔙`$. Then $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Lambda }}{\mathrm{\Omega }}\right)`$ never holds , and there exist sets of reals which do not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ .

Assume that $`𝔘`$ and $`𝔙`$ are collections of covers of a space $`X`$. The following property was introduced in .

* Every cover $`𝒰𝔘`$ can be split into two disjoint subcovers $`𝒱`$ and $`𝒲`$ which contain elements of $`𝔙`$.

Several results about these properties (where $`𝔘,𝔙`$ are collections of thick covers) are scattered in the literature. Some of them relate them to classical properties. For example, it is known that the Hurewicz property and Rothberger’s property both imply $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, and that the Sakai property (asserting that each finite power of $`X`$ has Rothberger’s property) implies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ . It is also known that if all finite powers of $`X`$ have the Hurewicz property, then $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ . By a recent characterization of the Reznichenko (or: weak Fréchet-Urysohn) property of $`C_p(X)`$ in terms of covering properties of $`X`$ , the Reznichenko property for $`C_p(X)`$ implies that $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$.

Some other works study these properties *per se* . As any infinite subset of a $`\gamma `$-cover is a $`\gamma `$-cover, we have that any set of reals satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Gamma },\mathrm{\Gamma })`$ (and therefore $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Gamma },𝔙)`$ for all $`𝔙\mathrm{\Gamma }`$) . The properties $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ are more restrictive .

#### Countable subcovers

It will be more convenient to work with countable covers instead of covers of arbitrary size. Each infinite subset of a $`\gamma `$-cover of a space is a $`\gamma `$-cover of the same space. Therefore any $`\gamma `$-cover contains a countable $`\gamma `$-cover. It is also true (but less trivial) that every $`\omega `$-cover of a set of reals $`X`$ contains a countable $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ .

###### Proposition 1.1.

Assume that $`X`$ is a set of reals and $`𝒰`$ is an open large cover of $`X`$. Then $`𝒰`$ contains a countable large cover of $`X`$.

###### Proof.

For a cover $`𝒱`$ of a set $`Y`$ write

$$𝒱(Y)=\{yY:yV\text{ for infinitely many }V𝒱\}.$$

Write $`X_0=X`$. As $`X_0`$ is Lindelöf, $`𝒰`$ contains a countable subcover $`𝒰_0`$ of $`X_0`$. Set $`X_1=X𝒰_0(X_0)`$. Then $`𝒰𝒰_0`$ is a large cover of $`X_1`$ (which is Lindelöf) and therefore contains a countable subcover $`𝒰_1`$ of $`X_1`$. Continue in this manner to define, for each $`n`$, the sets $`X_n,𝒰_n`$ such that $`X_n=X𝒰_{n1}(X_{n1})`$, and $`𝒰_n=𝒰_{k<n}𝒰_k`$ is a cover of $`X_n`$. Let $`X^{}=_nX_n`$ and $`𝒱=_n𝒰_n`$. As each $`𝒰_n`$ is a countable cover of $`X^{}`$ and the sets $`𝒰_n`$, $`n`$, are pairwise disjoint, $`𝒱`$ is a countable large cover of $`X^{}`$. For each $`xXX^{}`$ there exists $`n`$ such that $`x𝒰_n(X_n)`$. Thus $`𝒱`$ is also a large cover of $`XX^{}`$, and therefore of $`X`$. ∎

We now prove the analogue fact for $`\tau `$-covers.

###### Proposition 1.2.

Assume that $`X`$ is a set of reals and $`𝒰`$ is an open $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$. Then $`𝒰`$ contains a countable $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$.

Proposition 1.2 follows from Proposition 1.1 and the following observation, which is of independent importance.

###### Lemma 1.3.

Assume that $`𝒰`$ is a $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$ and that $`𝒱𝒰`$ is a large cover of $`X`$. Then $`𝒱`$ is a $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$.

###### Proof.

Assume that $`𝒰`$ is a $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$ and $`𝒱𝒰`$ is a large cover of $`X`$. We need only check that for each $`x,yX`$, one of the sets $`\{U𝒱:xU,yU\}`$ and $`\{U𝒱:yU,xU\}`$ is finite. But these are subsets of $`\{U𝒰:xU,yU\}`$ and $`\{U𝒰:yU,xU\}`$, respectively. ∎

We may therefore assume that all the covers we consider are countable. Consequently, the following, where an arrow denotes inclusion, holds:

$$\begin{array}{ccccccc}_\mathrm{\Gamma }& & _\mathrm{T}& & _\mathrm{\Omega }& & _\mathrm{\Lambda }\\ & & & & & & \\ \mathrm{\Gamma }& & \mathrm{T}& & \mathrm{\Omega }& & \mathrm{\Lambda }\\ & & & & & & \\ C_\mathrm{\Gamma }& & C_\mathrm{T}& & C_\mathrm{\Omega }& & C_\mathrm{\Lambda }\end{array}$$

As the property $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(𝔘,𝔙)`$ is monotonic in its first variable and anti-monotonic in its second variable, we have that for each $`x,y\{\mathrm{\Gamma },\mathrm{T},\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda }\}`$,

$$\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_x,_y)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(x,y)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_x,C_y).$$

Following the mainstream of papers dealing with collections of thick covers, we will be mostly interested in the splittability properties in the case of (general) open covers, but we will often use the fact that these properties are “sandwiched” between the corresponding Borel and clopen properties in order to derive theorems about them.

#### A Ramseyan property

It is well known  that being an $`\omega `$-cover is a Ramsey theoretic property: If an $`\omega `$-cover is partitioned into finitely many pieces, then at least one of the pieces is an $`\omega `$-cover. The same is true for $`\tau `$-covers.

###### Corollary 1.4.

Assume that $`𝒰=𝒰_1\mathrm{}𝒰_k`$ is a $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$. Then at least one of the sets $`𝒰_i`$ is a $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$.

###### Proof.

$`𝒰`$ is, in particular, an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$. Now use the corresponding fact for $`\omega `$-covers and Lemma 1.3. ∎

An *ultrafilter on $``$* is a family $`U`$ of subsets of $``$ that is closed under taking supersets, is closed under finite intersections, does not contain the empty set as an element, and for each $`a`$, either $`aU`$ or $`aU`$. An ultrafilter $`U`$ on $``$ is *nonprincipal* if it is not of the form $`\{a:na\}`$ for any $`n`$.

###### Corollary 1.5.

Assume that $`𝒰=\{U_n\}_n`$ is a $`\tau `$-cover of a space $`X`$ which cannot be split into two $`\tau `$-covers of $`X`$. Then

$$U=\{a:𝒱=\{U_n\}_{na}\text{ is a }\tau \text{-cover of }X\}$$

is a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.

###### Proof.

This follows from Corollary 1.4, as in . Alternatively, use Lemma 1.3 and the corresponding assertion for $`\omega `$-covers, which is also true . ∎

## Part I Classification

### 2. Equivalences and implications

We begin with the following complete array of properties (where an arrow denotes implication):

As we already mentioned in Section 1, all properties in the last column are trivial in the sense that all sets of reals satisfy them. On the other hand, all properties but the top one in the first column imply $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Lambda }}{\mathrm{\Omega }}\right)`$ and are therefore trivial in the sense that no infinite set of reals satisfies any of them.

###### Theorem 2.1.

The properties $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{\Omega })`$, and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ are equivalent.

###### Proof.

This is an immediate consequence of Lemma 1.3. ∎

Thus, removing trivialities and equivalences, we are left with the following properties.

The following easy cancellation laws can be added to those given in .

###### Proposition 2.2.

If $`𝔚𝔙𝔘`$, then:

1. $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{𝔘}{𝔙}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(𝔙,𝔚)=\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(𝔘,𝔚)`$; and
2. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(𝔘,𝔙)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{𝔙}{𝔚}\right)=\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(𝔘,𝔚)`$.

###### Corollary 2.3.

The following equivalences hold:

1. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Gamma })=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$; and
2. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{\Gamma })=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$.

###### Proof.

As every set of reals satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Gamma },\mathrm{\Gamma })`$, we have by Proposition 2.2 that

$$\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Gamma },\mathrm{\Gamma })=\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Gamma }).$$

The proof of the second assertion is similar. ∎

$`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ is the famous $`\gamma `$-property introduced by Gerlits and Nagy in . The property $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ was studied in . The property $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{T})`$ can also be expressed in terms of other properties: By Proposition 2.2,

$$\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{T})=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T}).$$

Recall from Section 1 that the Hurewicz property implies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. It is well known that the $`\gamma `$-property implies the Hurewicz property. Figure 1 summarizes our status. The figures for the clopen and countable Borel cases are the same, and, as noted before, each property in the Borel case implies the corresponding property in the open case, which in turn implies the corresponding property in the clopen case.

### 3. Combinatorial characterizations

In this section we give combinatorial characterizations for all splitting properties in the cases where the collections of covers are clopen or countable Borel. These characterizations will be used in the coming sections to rule out most of the nonexisting implications between the properties in Figure 1.

We first set the required terminology. The Cantor space $`\{0,1\}^{}`$ of infinite binary sequences is equipped with the product topology. Identify $`\{0,1\}^{}`$ with $`P()`$ by characteristic functions. Then the sets $`O_n=\{aP():na\}`$ and their complements form a clopen subbase for the topology of $`P()`$. Consider the subspace $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ of $`P()`$ consisting of the infinite sets of natural numbers. For $`a,bP_{\mathrm{}}()`$, we write $`a^{}b`$ if $`ab`$ is finite.

A family $`YP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is *centered* if it is closed under taking finite intersections. A family $`YP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is *reaping* if for each $`aP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ there exists $`yY`$ such that $`y^{}a`$ or $`y^{}a`$. Assume that $`U`$ is a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$. Observe that $`U`$ cannot contain a finite set as an element. Thus, $`U`$ is a subset of $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$. (Moreover, all cofinite sets belong to $`U`$ and therefore $`U`$ is closed under finite modifications of its elements.) A family $`BP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a *base* for $`U`$ if

$$U=\{aP_{\mathrm{}}():(bB)b^{}a\}.$$

(Consequently, a family $`BP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$ if, and only if, $`B`$ is centered and reaping.) Finally, a family $`BP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a *subbase* for a nonprincipal ultrafilter $`U`$ on $``$ if

$$U=\{aP_{\mathrm{}}():(k)(b_1,\mathrm{},b_kB)b_1\mathrm{}b_k^{}a\}.$$

The following combinatorial characterizations are given in .

###### Theorem 3.1.

For a set of reals $`X`$:

1. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ if, and only if, every continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a reaping family.
2. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ if, and only if, every continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a subbase for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.

By the same reasoning (see the proof of Theorem 3.5 below), one can prove the following.

###### Theorem 3.2.

For a set of reals $`X`$:

1. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a reaping family.
2. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a subbase for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.

###### Corollary 3.3.

For a set of reals $`X`$:

1. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$.
2. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$.

We now give combinatorial characterizations for $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$. These characterizations as well as the above-mentioned ones follow from the following lemma.

With each countable cover of $`X`$ enumerated bijectively as $`𝒰=\{U_n\}_{na}`$, where $`a`$, we associate a function $`h_𝒰:XP()`$, defined by $`h_𝒰(x)=\{na:xU_n\}`$. Note that $`h_𝒰`$ is a Borel function whenever $`𝒰`$ is a Borel cover of $`X`$, and $`h_𝒰`$ is continuous whenever $`𝒰`$ is a clopen cover of $`X`$.

An element $`aP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a pseudo-intersection of a family $`YP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ if for each $`yY`$, $`a^{}y`$. We will need the following minor extension of the corresponding lemma from .

###### Lemma 3.4.

Assume that $`𝒰=\{U_n\}_{na}`$, where $`a`$, is a cover of $`X`$.

1. $`𝒰`$ is a large cover of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]P_{\mathrm{}}()`$.
2. $`𝒰`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is centered.
3. $`𝒰`$ is a $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ and is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$.
4. $`𝒰`$ contains a $`\gamma `$-cover of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]`$ has a pseudo-intersection.

Moreover, if $`f:XP()`$ is any function, and $`𝒱=\{O_n\}_n`$ is the above-mentioned clopen cover of $`P()`$, then $`f=h_𝒰`$ for $`𝒰=\{f^1[O_n]\}_n`$.

For a family $`YP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ and an element $`aP_{\mathrm{}}()`$, the *restriction* of $`Y`$ to $`a`$ is the family

$$Ya=\{ya:yY\}.$$

If $`YaP_{\mathrm{}}()`$, then we say that this restriction is *large*. A nonprincipal ultrafilter $`U`$ on $``$ is called a *simple $`P`$-point* if there exists a base $`B`$ for $`U`$ such that $`B`$ is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$. We will call such a base a *simple $`P`$-point base*.

###### Theorem 3.5.

For a set of reals $`X`$:

1. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ if, and only if, every continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.
2. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.
3. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$ if, and only if, every continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a simple $`P`$-point base.
4. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a simple $`P`$-point base.

###### Proof.

Observe that for a cover $`𝒰=\{U_n\}_n`$ and any subset $`𝒱=\{U_n\}_{na}`$ of $`𝒰`$,

$$h_𝒱[X]=h_𝒰[X]a.$$

Assume that $`𝒰`$ is a large cover which cannot be split into two large subcovers. By Lemma 3.4 and the above observation, this means that $`h_𝒰[X]P_{\mathrm{}}()`$, and for each subset $`𝒱=\{U_n\}_{na}`$ of $`𝒰`$, either $`h_𝒱[X]=h_𝒰[X]a`$ is not large, or $`h_{𝒰𝒱}[X]=h_𝒰[X](a)`$ is not large. In the first case there exists $`yh_𝒰[X]`$ such that $`ya`$ is finite, that is, $`y^{}a`$. Similarly, in the second case there exists $`yh_𝒰[X]`$ such that $`y^{}a`$. In other words, our assumption on $`𝒰`$ is equivalent to the fact that $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is reaping.

(1) Assume that $`X`$ does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and let $`𝒰`$ be a countable clopen $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ which cannot be split into two large covers of $`X`$. Fix some enumeration of $`𝒰`$. By Lemma 3.4, $`h_𝒰[X]`$, a continuous image of $`X`$, is centered. By the above observation, $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is reaping and therefore a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.

To prove the remaining implication, assume that $`f:XP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a continuous function such that $`Y=f[X]`$ is a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$. By Lemma 3.4, $`𝒰=\{f^1[O_n]\}_n`$ is a clopen cover of $`X`$, and $`f=h_𝒰`$. Thus, $`Y=h_𝒰[X]`$. As $`Y`$ is centered, $`𝒰`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$. As $`Y`$ is reaping, $`𝒰`$ cannot be split into two large covers of $`X`$.

(2) is similar to (1).

(3) Recall that $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})=\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{\Lambda })`$.

Assume that $`𝒰=\{U_n\}_n`$ is a clopen $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$ which cannot be split into two large covers of $`X`$. $`Y=h_𝒰[X]P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ and is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$. In particular, $`Y`$ is centered. By the arguments of (1), $`Y`$ is a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$. As $`Y`$ is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$, it is a simple $`P`$-point base.

Now assume that $`f:XP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a continuous function such that $`Y=f[X]`$ is a simple $`P`$-point base. In particular, $`Y`$ is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$. As in (1), we get that $`𝒰=\{f^1[O_n]\}_n`$ is a clopen $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$, and, as $`Y`$ is reaping, $`𝒰`$ cannot be split into two large covers.

(4) is similar to (3). ∎

The proofs of Theorem 3.5 and the related arguments for $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ actually establish the following extension of Lemma 3.4.

###### Lemma 3.6.

Assume that $`𝒰=\{U_n\}_n`$ is a cover of $`X`$.

1. $`𝒰`$ is a large cover of $`X`$ which cannot be split into two large covers of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is a reaping family.
2. $`𝒰`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ which cannot be split into two large covers of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.
3. $`𝒰`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ which cannot be split into two $`\omega `$-covers of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is a subbase for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$.
4. $`𝒰`$ is an $`\tau `$-cover of $`X`$ which cannot be split into two $`\tau `$-covers of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is a simple $`P`$-point base.

From Theorem 3.5 we get the following.

###### Corollary 3.7.

For a set of reals $`X`$:

1. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$.
2. $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$ if, and only if, every Borel image of $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$.

The properties $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ (and therefore $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$) also have combinatorial characterizations which follow from Lemma 3.4.

###### Theorem 3.8.

For a set of reals $`X`$:

1. $`X`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ if, and only if, each centered continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ has a pseudo-intersection .
2. $`X`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ if, and only if, each $`^{}`$-linearly ordered continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ has a pseudo-intersection .
3. $`X`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ if, and only if, each centered continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ has a large restriction which is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$ .

The analogue Borel version of Theorem 3.8 also holds .

### 4. Special elements

Sets which are continuous images of Borel sets are called *analytic*. In  it is proved that any analytic set of reals satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$. It is well known that analytic sets can also be defined as sets which are Borel images of the Cantor space $`\{0,1\}^{}`$. Consequently, analytic sets are closed under taking Borel images.

###### Proposition 4.1.

1. Every analytic set of reals satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ as well as $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{T}}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$.
2. The analytic set $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, and it does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ either.
3. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{T}}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ does not imply $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$.

###### Proof.

(1) Assume that $`X`$ is an analytic set of reals. Then each Borel image $`YP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ of $`X`$ is analytic and therefore satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$. By Corollary 3.3, $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$. The second assertion was proved in .

(2) The first assertion is an immediate consequence of Theorem 3.1. (This is also proved in .) It remains to prove the second assertion. It is well known that $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ does not have the $`\gamma `$-property (which implies measure zero) , and that for separable zero-dimensional metric spaces (this is the case for $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$), $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ (an open $`\omega `$-cover can be refined to a clopen $`\omega `$-cover) . Thus $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$. As $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, we have by (1) that $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$.

(3) Follows from (1) and (2). ∎

Thus, no arrow can be added from $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ or from $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ to any of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$.

###### Corollary 4.2.

The closed unit interval $`I=[0,1]`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$, and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, but does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)`$.

###### Proof.

The Hurewicz property implies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, and $`\sigma `$-compact sets have the Hurewicz property. Moreover, as $`\sigma `$-compact sets of reals are $`F_\sigma `$, they satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ as well as $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ by Proposition 4.1. Finally, the unit interval does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ and the required assertion follows as in the proof of Proposition 4.1. ∎

In particular, we cannot add an arrow from $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ to $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$ in Figure 1.

One may wonder whether all examples in $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ are $`\sigma `$-compact. The answer for this is negative.

###### Theorem 4.3.

There exists a set of reals $`X`$ such that $`X`$ is not $`\sigma `$-compact, and $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$.

###### Proof.

In  a set of reals $`X`$ is constructed which is not $`\sigma `$-compact, and such that all finite powers of $`X`$ have the Hurewicz property. In  it is proved that any set with this property satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$. As $`X`$ has the Hurewicz property, it also satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. ∎

Corollary 4.2 does not rule out the possibility that $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ implies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$. This nonimplication will be proved in the next section.

### 5. Consistency results

Thus far we have not used any special hypotheses beyond the usual axioms of mathematics (ZFC). In this section we obtain several nonimplications by applying set-theoretic consistency results.

###### Theorem 5.1.

It is consistent that all sets of reals satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$. In particular, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$ does not imply any of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$.

###### Proof.

In  (see also ) a model of set theory is constructed where there exist no simple $`P`$-points. By Theorem 3.5(4), every set of reals in this model satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$. By Zorn’s Lemma there exists a nonprincipal ultrafilter $`U`$ on $``$. By Theorem 3.5(1), $`U`$ does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. Also, one can construct by transfinite induction a $`^{}`$-linearly ordered family $`YP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ which has no pseudo-intersection. By Theorem 3.8(2), $`Y`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$. ∎

A natural question is whether $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$ is, like $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Gamma },\mathrm{\Gamma })`$, trivial in the sense that all sets of reals satisfy this property. It is easy to construct, assuming the Continuum Hypothesis (or just $`𝔱=𝔠`$ – see definitions below), a $`^{}`$-decreasing sequence $`a_\alpha :\alpha <𝔠`$ such that for each For each $`a`$, there exists $`\alpha `$ such that either $`a_\alpha ^{}a`$ or $`a_\alpha ^{}a`$ . Clearly such a sequence forms a simple $`P`$-point base, and, by Theorem 3.5, does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$. The following shows a bit more than that (at the cost of using a very deep result). Let $`𝔠`$ denote the cardinality of the continuum. In  a model of set theory is constructed in which $`𝔠=\mathrm{}_2`$ and there exist two simple $`P`$-points with bases of cardinalities $`\mathrm{}_1`$ and $`\mathrm{}_2`$.

###### Corollary 5.2.

It is consistent that $`𝔠=\mathrm{}_2`$ and there exist sets of reals $`X`$ and $`Y`$ of cardinalities $`\mathrm{}_1`$ and $`\mathrm{}_2`$, respectively, which do not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$.

In order to proceed, we introduce several cardinal characteristics of the continuum and some of their properties (see  for details and proofs). Let $`𝔯`$ denote the minimal cardinality of a reaping family, and $`𝔲`$ denote the minimal cardinality of a base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$. Then $`𝔯𝔲`$. The *critical cardinality* of a property $`𝐏`$ of sets of reals, $`\mathrm{𝗇𝗈𝗇}(𝐏)`$, is the minimal cardinality of a set of reals which does not satisfy this property. In  it is deduced from Theorem 3.1 that $`\mathrm{𝗇𝗈𝗇}(\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda }))=𝔯`$, and $`\mathrm{𝗇𝗈𝗇}(\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega }))=𝔲`$. (These results also hold in the clopen and Borel cases.) By Theorem 3.5, we have the following.

###### Theorem 5.3.

The critical cardinalities of the classes $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ are all equal to $`𝔲`$.

Let $`𝔭`$ denote the minimal cardinality of a centered family in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ which does not have a pseudo-intersection. In  it is shown that the critical cardinalities of $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)`$, and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ are all equal to $`𝔭`$.

###### Corollary 5.4.

The critical cardinalities of $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$, and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$ are all equal to $`𝔭`$.

###### Proof.

All these properties are implied by $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ (whose critical cardinality is $`𝔭`$), and imply $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ (whose critical cardinality is also $`𝔭`$). ∎

A *tower* of length $`\kappa `$ is a $`^{}`$-decreasing sequence $`a_\alpha :\alpha <\kappa `$ of elements of $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$, which has no pseudo-intersection. Let $`𝔱`$ denote the minimal cardinality of a tower. In  it is deduced from Theorem 3.8 and its Borel version that the critical cardinalities of the classes $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{T}}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ are equal to $`𝔱`$. The following diagram summarizes the critical cardinalities of the properties we study (observe that by Theorem 5.1, the critical cardinality of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$ is undefined).

Let $`𝔥`$ denote the *distributivity number*. For our purposes the definition of $`𝔥`$ is not important; we need only quote the result that $`𝔥𝔯`$. The following theorem strengthens Theorem 5.1.

###### Theorem 5.5.

There exists a single model of set theory that witnesses the following facts:

1. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$ does not imply any of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$; and
2. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ does not imply any of $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$.

###### Proof.

In  a model of set theory is constructed in which $`𝔥=𝔠=\mathrm{}_2`$ but there are no towers of length $`\mathrm{}_2`$. As $`𝔥𝔯`$, $`𝔯=𝔲=𝔠=\mathrm{}_2`$ in this model.

###### Lemma 5.6.

There exist no simple $`P`$-points in this model.

###### Proof.

Assume that $`BP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a simple $`P`$-point base. Then $`|B|𝔲`$. As $`𝔲=𝔠=\mathrm{}_2`$, $`|B|=\mathrm{}_2`$, and a cofinal $`^{}`$-decreasing subset of $``$ would be a tower of length $`\mathrm{}_2`$, a contradiction. ∎

Thus, in this model all sets of reals satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$.

As there are no towers of length $`\mathrm{}_2`$ in this model, we have that $`𝔭=𝔱=\mathrm{}_1`$. Thus there exist sets of reals $`X`$ and $`Y`$ of cardinality $`\mathrm{}_1`$ which do not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, respectively. As $`\mathrm{}_1<𝔯𝔲`$, $`X`$ and $`Y`$ satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ as well as $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$. ∎

We now prove that $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ does not imply $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$. The *additivity number* of a collection (or a property) $``$ of sets of reals is

$$\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()=\mathrm{min}\{||:\text{ and }\},$$

and the *covering number* of $``$ is

$$\mathrm{𝖼𝗈𝗏}()=\mathrm{min}\{||:\text{ and }=\}.$$

Let $``$ denote the collection of meager (i.e., first category) sets of real numbers. By the Baire’s category theorem, $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()\mathrm{𝖼𝗈𝗏}()`$. Assume that $`\kappa `$ is an uncountable cardinal. A set of reals $`L`$ is a *$`\kappa `$-Luzin set* if $`|L|\kappa `$ and for each meager set $`M`$, $`|LM|<\kappa `$.

###### Theorem 5.7.

Assume the Continuum Hypothesis (or just $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()=𝔠`$). Then there exists an $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$-Luzin set $`L`$ which satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ but not $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$.

###### Proof.

In  it is proved that if $`L`$ is an $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$-Luzin set, then each Borel image of $`L`$ satisfies Rothberger’s property. As Rothberger’s property implies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ , we have by Corollary 3.3 that $`L`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$.

It therefore suffices to construct a $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$-Luzin set which is a subbase for a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$. To this end, fix a nonprincipal ultrafilter $`U`$ on $``$. It is well known that nonprincipal ultrafilters on $``$ do not have the Baire property, and in particular are nonmeager . It is therefore conceivable that the following holds.

###### Lemma 5.8.

Assume that $`U`$ is a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$ and that $`MP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is meager. Then $`UM`$ is a subbase for $`U`$. In fact, for each $`aU`$ there exist $`a_0,a_1UM`$ such that $`a_0a_1a`$.

Replying to a question of ours, Shelah gave a proof for this lemma. To simplify the proof, we make some translation. Recall that $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is a subspace of $`P()`$ whose topology is defined by its identification with $`\{0,1\}^{}`$. It is well known  that for each meager subset $`M`$ of $`\{0,1\}^{}`$ there exist $`x\{0,1\}^{}`$ and a strictly increasing function $`f{}_{}{}^{}`$ such that

$$M\{y\{0,1\}^{}:(^{\mathrm{}}n)y[f(n),f(n+1))x[f(n),f(n+1))\}$$

where $`^{\mathrm{}}n`$ means “for all but finitely many $`n`$”. Translating this to the language of $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$, we get that for each $`n`$ there exist disjoint sets $`I_0^n`$ and $`I_1^n`$ satisfying $`I_0^nI_1^n=[f(n),f(n+1))`$, such that

(1)
$$M\{yP_{\mathrm{}}():(^{\mathrm{}}n)yI_0^n\mathrm{}\text{ or }I_1^ny\}.$$

###### Proof of Lemma 5.8.

Assume that the sets $`I_0^n,I_1^n`$, $`n`$, are chosen as in (1). Let $`a`$ be an infinite co-infinite subset of $``$. Then either $`x=_{na}[f(n),f(n+1))U`$, or else $`x=_{na}[f(n),f(n+1))U`$. We may assume that the former case holds. Split $`a`$ into two disjoint infinite sets $`a_1`$ and $`a_2`$. Then $`x_i=_{na_i}[f(n),f(n+1))U`$ ($`i=1,2`$).

Assume that $`bU`$. Then $`\stackrel{~}{b}=bx=b(x)U`$. Define sets $`y_1,y_2UM`$ as follows.

$`y_1`$ $`=`$ $`\stackrel{~}{b}{\displaystyle \underset{na_2}{}}I_1^n`$
$`y_2`$ $`=`$ $`\stackrel{~}{b}{\displaystyle \underset{na_1}{}}I_1^n`$
By (1), $`y_1,y_2M`$. As $`y_1,y_2\stackrel{~}{b}`$, $`y_1,y_2U`$. Now, $`y_1y_2=\stackrel{~}{b}b`$. ∎

We now construct the Luzin set $`L`$. Enumerate $`U`$ as $`\{a_\alpha :\alpha <𝔠\}`$, and let $`\{M_\alpha :\alpha <𝔠\}`$ be a cofinal family of meager sets in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ (e.g., the $`F_\sigma `$ meager sets). For each $`\alpha <𝔠`$ use Lemma 5.8 to choose

$$a_\alpha ^0,a_\alpha ^1U\underset{\beta <\alpha }{}M_\beta $$

such that $`a_\alpha ^0a_\alpha ^1a_\alpha `$. Then $`L=\{a_\alpha ^0,a_\alpha ^1:\alpha <𝔠\}`$ is as required. ∎

It is an open problem whether $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ . Observe that if $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ implies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, then $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$. The only remaining classification problems are stated in the following problem.

###### Problem 5.9.

Is the dotted implication (1) (and therefore (2) and (3)) in the following diagram true? If not, then is the dotted implication (3) true?

Observe that with regards to the properties $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$, and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$, the classification is complete.

## Part II Preservation of properties

### 6. Unions

The proof of Theorem 5.7 can be extended to obtain more. For the proof, we need some notation and results from . A cover $`𝒰`$ of $`X`$ is *$`\omega `$-fat* if for each finite $`FX`$ and finite family $``$ of nonempty open sets, there exists $`U𝒰`$ such that $`FU`$, and for each $`G`$ $`UG`$ is not meager. In this case, for each finite $`FX`$ and finite family $``$ of nonempty basic open sets, the set $`\{U𝒰:FU\text{ and }(O)UO\}`$ is comeager, and for each element $`x`$ in the intersection of all sets of this form, $`𝒰`$ is an $`\omega `$-fat cover of $`X\{x\}`$. Let $`_{\mathrm{\Omega }_{\mathrm{fat}}}`$ denote the collection of countable Borel $`\omega `$-fat covers of $`X`$. The following property, which generalizes several classical properties, was introduced in .

* For each sequence $`\{𝒰_n\}_n`$ of members of $`𝔘`$, there is a sequence $`\{U_n\}_n`$ such that for each $`n`$ $`U_n𝒰_n`$, and $`\{U_n\}_n𝔙`$.

Then $`\mathrm{𝗇𝗈𝗇}(𝖲_1(_{\mathrm{\Omega }_{\mathrm{fat}}},_{\mathrm{\Omega }_{\mathrm{fat}}}))\mathrm{𝖼𝗈𝗏}()\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$. Finally, if $`L`$ is a $`\kappa `$-Lusin set such that for each nonempty basic open set $`G`$, $`|LG|=\kappa `$, then every countable Borel $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒰`$ of $`L`$ is an $`\omega `$-fat cover of $`L`$.

###### Lemma 6.1.

$`𝖲_1(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ implies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ as well as $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$.

###### Proof.

$`𝖲_1(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$, which is closed under taking Borel images, implies the Sakai property, which implies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ as well as $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Lambda },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. The assertion follows from Corollary 3.3. ∎

Observe that a union of two $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$-Luzin sets is again an $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$-Luzin set, and therefore satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. Thus, the following theorem, apart from showing that the properties $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$, and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ are not additive, also extends Theorem 5.7.

###### Theorem 6.2.

Assume the Continuum Hypothesis (or just $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()=𝔠`$). Then there exist two $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$-Luzin sets $`L_0`$ and $`L_1`$ satisfying $`𝖲_1(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ (and therefore $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$), such that $`L=L_0L_1`$ (which satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$) does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$.

###### Proof.

We follow the footsteps of the proof given in . Let $`U=\{a_\alpha :\alpha <𝔠\}`$ be a nonprincipal ultrafilter on $``$. Let $`\{M_\alpha :\alpha <𝔠\}`$ enumerate all $`F_\sigma `$ meager sets in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$, and $`\{\{𝒰_n^\alpha \}_n:\alpha <𝔠\}`$ enumerate all countable sequences of countable families of Borel sets in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$. Let $`\{O_i:i\}`$ and $`\{_i:i\}`$ enumerate all nonempty basic open sets and finite families of nonempty basic open sets, respectively, in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$.

We construct $`L_i=\{a_\beta ^i:\beta <𝔠\}`$, $`i=1,2`$, by induction on $`\alpha <𝔠`$ as follows. At stage $`\alpha 0`$ set $`X_\alpha ^i=\{a_\beta ^i:\beta <\alpha \}`$ and consider the sequence $`\{𝒰_n^\alpha \}_n`$. Say that $`\alpha `$ is $`i`$-good if for each $`n`$ $`𝒰_n^\alpha `$ is an $`\omega `$-fat cover of $`X_\alpha ^i`$. In this case, by the above remarks there exist elements $`U_n^{\alpha ,i}𝒰_n^\alpha `$ such that $`\{U_n^{\alpha ,i}\}_n`$ is an $`\omega `$-fat cover of $`X_\alpha ^i`$. We make the inductive hypothesis that for each $`i`$-good $`\beta <\alpha `$, $`\{U_n^{\beta ,i}\}_n`$ is an $`\omega `$-fat cover of $`X_\alpha ^i`$. For each finite $`FX_\alpha ^i`$, $`i`$-good $`\beta \alpha `$, and $`m`$ define

$$G_i(F,\beta ,m)=\{U_n^{\beta ,i}:FU_n^{\beta ,i}\text{ and }(O_m)U_n^{\beta ,i}O\}.$$

By the inductive hypothesis, $`G_i(F,\beta ,m)`$ is comeager. Set

$$Y_\alpha =\underset{\beta <\alpha }{}M_\beta \underset{\begin{array}{c}i<2,\text{ }i\text{-good }\beta \alpha \\ m,\text{ Finite }FX_\alpha ^i\end{array}}{}(P_{\mathrm{}}()G_i(F,\beta ,m)),$$

and $`Y_\alpha ^{}=\{xP_{\mathrm{}}():(yY_\alpha )x=^{}y\}`$ (where $`x=^{}y`$ means that $`x^{}y`$ and $`y^{}x`$.) Then $`Y_\alpha ^{}`$ is a union of less than $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$ many meager sets, and is therefore meager. Use Lemma 5.8 to pick $`a_\alpha ^0,a_\alpha ^1UY_\alpha ^{}`$ such that $`a_\alpha ^0a_\alpha ^1^{}a_\alpha `$. Let $`k=\alpha mod\omega `$, and change finitely many elements of $`a_\alpha ^0`$ and $`a_\alpha ^1`$ so that they both become members of $`O_k`$. Then $`a_\alpha ^0,a_\alpha ^1(UO_k)Y_\alpha `$, and $`a_\alpha ^0a_\alpha ^1^{}a_\alpha `$. Observe that, by the remarks in the beginning of this section, the inductive hypothesis remains true for $`\alpha `$. This completes the construction.

Clearly $`L_0`$ and $`L_1`$ are Luzin sets and $`L_0L_1`$ is a subbase for $`U`$. We made sure that for each nonempty basic open set $`G`$, $`|L_0G|=|L_1G|=𝔠`$, thus $`_\mathrm{\Omega }=_{\mathrm{\Omega }_{\mathrm{fat}}}`$ for $`L_0`$ and $`L_1`$. By the construction, $`L_0,L_1𝖲_1(_{\mathrm{\Omega }_{\mathrm{fat}}},_{\mathrm{\Omega }_{\mathrm{fat}}})`$. ∎

The properties $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{T}}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ are $`\sigma `$-additive (their additivity number is exactly $`𝔱`$) .

We will show that no property between $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ is provably additive. Let $`𝐏`$ be a property of sets of reals. We say that a set of reals $`X`$ is *hereditarily-$`𝐏`$* if all subsets of $`X`$ satisfy the property $`𝐏`$.

###### Theorem 6.3.

Assume the Continuum Hypothesis. There exist disjoint, zero-dimensional sets of reals $`A`$ and $`B`$ satisfying $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, such that $`AB`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$.

###### Proof.

In  it is shown that assuming the Continuum Hypothesis, there exist disjoint, zero-dimensional sets of reals $`A(0,1)`$ and $`B(1,2)`$ satisfying $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, such that $`AB`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)`$. In particular, $`AB`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$. As $`A(0,1)`$ and $`B(1,2)`$, $`AB`$ is zero-dimensional too, and therefore $`AB`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$. As $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ is additive, $`AB`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{T}}{C_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$. Thus, $`AB`$ does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$. ∎

###### Theorem 6.4.

The properties $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$, and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$ are $`\sigma `$-additive. In fact, they are closed under taking unions of size less than $`𝔲`$.

This theorem follows Theorem 3.5 and the following Ramseyan property.

###### Lemma 6.5.

Assume that $`\lambda <𝔲`$ and $`B=_{\alpha <\lambda }B_\alpha `$ is a simple $`P`$-point base. Then there exists $`\alpha <\lambda `$ such that $`B_\alpha `$ is a simple $`P`$-point base.

###### Proof.

Assume that $`B`$ is a simple $`P`$-point base and $`U`$ is the simple $`P`$-point it generates. In particular, $`B`$ is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$. We will show that some $`B_\alpha `$ is a base for $`U`$. Assume otherwise. For each $`\alpha <\lambda `$ choose $`a_\alpha U`$ that witnesses that $`B_\alpha `$ is not a base for $`U`$, and $`\stackrel{~}{a}_\alpha B`$ such that $`\stackrel{~}{a}_\alpha ^{}a_\alpha `$. As $`B`$ is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$, $`\stackrel{~}{a}_\alpha `$ is a pseudo-intersection of $`B_\alpha `$.

The cardinality of the linearly ordered set $`Y=\{\stackrel{~}{a}_\alpha :\alpha <\lambda \}`$ is smaller than $`𝔲`$. Thus it is not a base for $`U`$ and we can find again an element $`a`$ which is a pseudo-intersection of $`Y`$, and therefore of $`B`$; a contradiction. ∎

Using similar ideas, one can prove that the properties in the forthcoming Theorem 6.6 are (finitely) additive. The referee has pointed out to us that in fact, these properties are $`\sigma `$-additive. The proof is almost verbatim the one given by the referee.

###### Theorem 6.6.

The properties $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{\Omega },C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ are $`\sigma `$-additive.

###### Proof.

We will prove the open case. The other cases are similar.

###### Lemma 6.7.

Assume that $`𝒰`$ is a countable open $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$ and that $`XY`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. Then $`𝒰`$ can be partitioned into two pieces $`𝒱`$ and $`𝒲`$ such that that $`𝒲`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$ and each element of $`X`$ is contained in infinitely many members of $`𝒱`$.<sup>1</sup><sup>1</sup>1Due to our technical requirement in the introduction that $`X`$ is not contained in any member of the cover, this does not imply that $`𝒱`$ is a large cover of $`X`$.

###### Proof.

First assume that there does not exist $`U𝒰`$ with $`XU`$. Then $`𝒰`$ in an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$. By the splitting property we can divide it into two pieces each a large cover of $`X`$. Since $`𝒰`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$, one of the pieces is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$ (see introduction), and the lemma is proved. If there are only finitely many $`U𝒰`$ with $`XU`$, then $`\stackrel{~}{𝒰}=𝒰\{U𝒰:XU\}`$ is still an $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$ and we can apply to it the above argument.

Thus, assume that there are infinitely many $`U𝒰`$ with $`XU`$. Then take a partition of $`𝒰`$ into two pieces such that each piece contains infinitely many sets $`U`$ with $`XU`$. One of the pieces must be an $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$. ∎

Assume that $`Y=_nX_n`$ where each $`X_n`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, and let $`𝒰_0`$ be an open $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$. Given $`𝒰_n`$ an open $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$, apply the lemma twice to get a partition $`𝒰_n=𝒱_n^0𝒱_n^1𝒰_{n+1}`$ such that $`𝒰_{n+1}`$ is an open $`\omega `$-cover of $`Y`$ and for each $`i=0,1`$, each element of $`X_n`$ is contained in infinitely many $`V𝒱_n^i`$. Then the families $`𝒱^i=_n𝒱_n^i`$, $`i=0,1`$, are disjoint large covers of $`Y`$ which are subcovers of $`𝒰_0`$. ∎

One additivity problem remains open.

###### Problem 6.8.

Is $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ additive?

### 7. Hereditarity

We have, implicitly and explicitly, used the following fact in the preceding sections.

###### Proposition 7.1.

For each $`x,y\{\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{T},\mathrm{\Gamma }\}`$:

1. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_x,C_y)`$ is closed under taking clopen subsets and continuous images,
2. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(x,y)`$ is closed under taking closed subsets and continuous images; and
3. $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_x,_y)`$ is closed under taking Borel subsets and continuous images.

###### Proof.

The proofs for these assertions are standard, see . ∎

A class $``$ of sets of reals is *hereditary* if it is closed under taking subsets.

###### Theorem 7.2.

Assume the Continuum Hypothesis (or just $`𝔭=𝔠`$). Then there exists a set of reals $`X`$ (of size $`𝔠`$) and a countable subset $`Q`$ of $`X`$ such that $`X`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ and $`XQ`$ does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$.

###### Proof.

In , a subset $`X`$ of $`P()`$ is constructed, such that:

1. $`X`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$,
2. $`X=PQ`$ where $`PP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$ and $`Q`$ is countable; and
3. For each infinite coinfinite subset $`a`$ of $``$, there exists $`xP`$ such that either $`x^{}a`$, or else $`x^{}a`$.

Consequently, $`XQ=P`$ is a simple $`P`$-point base, which, by Theorem 3.5, does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$. ∎

###### Corollary 7.3.

None of the splittability properties in the open (or clopen) case implies any of the splittability properties in the Borel case.

###### Proof.

Consider the set $`X`$ given in Theorem 7.2. $`X`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$, and as $`Q`$ is countable, $`XQ`$ is a Borel subset of $`X`$. By Proposition 7.1, if $`X`$ satisfied $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$, so would $`XQ`$. In particular, we would have that $`XQ`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$, a contradiction. ∎

Despite the above, some classes in the Borel case *are* provably hereditary.

###### Theorem 7.4.

$`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ is hereditary.

###### Proof.

This follows from Theorem 3.2 and the fact that each Borel function defined on a set of reals can be extended to a Borel function on $``$ . A direct proof for this is as follows: Assume that $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and that $`Y`$ is a subset of $`X`$. Assume that $`𝒰`$ is a countable Borel cover of $`Y`$. Then

$$𝒱=\{U(X𝒰):U𝒰\}$$

is a countable Borel large cover of $`X`$, and therefore can be split into two disjoint large subcovers $`𝒱_1`$ and $`𝒱_2`$. Then $`\{VY:V𝒱_1\}\{\mathrm{}\}`$ and $`\{VY:V𝒱_2\}\{\mathrm{}\}`$ are disjoint subsets of $`𝒰`$ and are large covers of $`Y`$. ∎

Recently, Miller proved that no class between $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ is provably hereditary . In particular, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$ is not provably hereditary.

###### Problem 7.5.

Is any of the remaining classes (namely, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$, $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{T},_\mathrm{T})`$, and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{T}}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$) provably hereditary?

### 8. Finite powers and products

The $`\gamma `$-property $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ is provably closed under taking finite powers, but not under taking finite products . This assertion can be extended.

###### Theorem 8.1.

No class between $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{_\mathrm{\Omega }}{_\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ is provably closed under taking finite products.

###### Proof.

The proof for this is as in . Assume the Continuum Hypothesis, and let $`A`$ and $`B`$ be as in Lemma 6.3. Assume that $`A\times B`$ satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$. Fix $`aA`$ and $`bB`$. As $`A`$ and $`B`$ are zero-dimensional, The set $`X=(A\times \{b\})(\{a\}\times B)`$ is a clopen subset of $`A\times B`$ and therefore satisfies $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$ too. But as $`A`$ and $`B`$ are disjoint, this set is homeomorphic to $`AB`$, which does not satisfy $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{C_\mathrm{\Omega }}{C_\mathrm{T}}\right)`$, a contradiction. ∎

In particular, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$ is not provably closed under taking finite products. We do not know whether this property is provably closed under taking finite *powers*. In fact, we cannot even answer this question for $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)`$; we only have a related result.

The following notion was introduced in  as an approximation for the notion of $`\tau `$-cover. A family $`YP_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is *linearly refinable* if for each $`yY`$ there exists an infinite subset $`\widehat{y}y`$ such that the family $`\widehat{Y}=\{\widehat{y}:yY\}`$ is linearly ordered by $`^{}`$. A cover $`𝒰`$ of $`X`$ is a *$`\tau ^{}`$-cover* of $`X`$ if and $`h_𝒰[X]`$ (where $`h_𝒰`$ is the function defined before Lemma 3.4) is linearly refinable. By Lemma 3.4, every $`\tau ^{}`$-cover is an $`\omega `$-cover, and any $`\tau `$-cover is a $`\tau ^{}`$-cover. Let $`\mathrm{T}^{}`$, $`_\mathrm{T}^{}`$, and $`C_\mathrm{T}^{}`$ denote the collections of all *countable* open, Borel, and clopen $`\tau ^{}`$-covers, respectively.

###### Theorem 8.2.

The property $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}^{}}\right)`$ is closed under taking finite powers.

###### Proof.

Fix $`k`$. In  it is proved that for each open $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒰`$ of $`X^k`$ there exists an open $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒱`$ of $`X`$ such that the $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒱^k=\{V^k:V𝒱\}`$ of $`X^k`$ refines $`𝒰`$.

Assume that $`𝒰`$ is an open $`\omega `$-cover of $`X^k`$. Choose an open $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒱`$ of $`X`$ such that $`𝒱^k`$ refines $`𝒰`$. Apply $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}^{}}\right)`$ to choose a subcover $`𝒲`$ of $`𝒱`$ such that $`𝒲`$ is a $`\tau ^{}`$-cover of $`X`$. Then $`𝒲^k`$ is a $`\tau ^{}`$-cover of $`X^k`$ . For each $`W𝒲`$ choose $`U_W𝒰`$ such that $`W^kU_W`$. As $`\tau ^{}`$-covers are closed under taking de-refinements , $`\{U_W:W𝒲\}`$ is a $`\tau ^{}`$-cover of $`X`$. ∎

Thus, if $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T}^{},\mathrm{T}^{})`$ is closed under taking finite powers, then so is $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}^{}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T}^{},\mathrm{T}^{})=\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{T}^{})`$.

We can get very close to showing that no class between $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$ is closed under taking finite powers.

###### Theorem 8.3.

Assume the Continuum Hypothesis (or just $`𝔱=𝔠`$). Then there exist sets of reals $`L_0`$ and $`L_1`$ such that:

1. $`L_0`$ and $`L_1`$ satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$,
2. $`L=L_0L_1`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(_\mathrm{\Lambda },_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$,
3. $`L_0\times L_1`$ and $`L\times L`$ do not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T}^{},C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$; and
4. $`L_0\times L_1`$ (and therefore $`L\times L`$) is not hereditarily-$`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$.

In particular, the classes $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ (and their Borel and clopen versions) are not closed under taking finite powers, and $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ (and its Borel and clopen versions) is not closed under taking finite products.

###### Proof.

The essence of the proof is the following lemma.

###### Lemma 8.4.

Assume the Continuum Hypothesis (or just $`𝔱=𝔠`$). Then there exist $`𝔱`$-Luzin subsets $`L_0=\{a_\alpha ^0:\alpha <𝔠\}`$ and $`L_1=\{a_\alpha ^1:\alpha <𝔠\}`$ of $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ such that $`L_0`$ and $`L_1`$ satisfy $`𝖲_1(_\mathrm{\Omega },_\mathrm{\Omega })`$, and $`B=\{a_\alpha ^0a_\alpha ^1:\alpha <𝔠\}`$ is a simple $`P`$-point base.

###### Proof.

As we assume that $`𝔱=𝔠`$, there exists a simple $`P`$-point $`U=\{a_\alpha :\alpha <𝔠\}`$ (see the discussion before Corollary 5.2).

As $`𝔱\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$, we have that $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()=𝔠`$ and we can repeat the construction given in 6.2, with the following modification: At step $`\alpha `$ of the construction, consider the subset $`Y=\{a_\beta ^0a_\beta ^1:\beta <\alpha \}\{a_\alpha \}`$ of $`U`$. As $`\alpha <𝔲`$, this is not a base for $`U`$ and as $`U`$ is a simple $`P`$-point, there exists $`\stackrel{~}{a}_\alpha U`$ which is a pseudo-intersection of $`Y`$. Now find, as done there, elements $`a_\alpha ^0,a_\alpha ^1UY_\alpha ^{}`$ such that $`a_\alpha ^0,a_\alpha ^1(UG_k)Y_\alpha `$, and $`a_\alpha ^0a_\alpha ^1^{}\stackrel{~}{a}_\alpha `$. ∎

###### Lemma 8.5.

The mapping from $`P_{\mathrm{}}()\times P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ to $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ defined by

$$(a,b)ab$$

is continuous.

###### Proof.

It is enough to show that the preimage of a subbasic open set is open. Indeed, for each $`n`$ the preimage of $`O_n=\{aP_{\mathrm{}}():na\}`$ is $`O_n\times O_n`$, and the preimage of $`O_n`$ is the union of the open sets $`O_n\times (O_n)`$, $`(O_n)\times O_n`$, and $`(O_n)\times (O_n)`$. ∎

Let $`U`$, $`L_0`$, and $`L_1`$ be as in Lemma 8.4. By Lemma 6.1, (1) holds. As $`L=L_0L_1`$ is an $`\mathrm{𝖺𝖽𝖽}()`$-Luzin set, (2) holds. By Lemma 8.5, $`B=\{a_\alpha ^0a_\alpha ^1:\alpha <𝔠\}`$ is a continuous image of the subset $`\mathrm{\Delta }=\{(a_\alpha ^0,a_\alpha ^1):\alpha <𝔠\}`$ of $`L_0\times L_1`$. As $`B`$ is a simple $`P`$-point base, we have by Lemma 3.5 that $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ does not satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T},C_\mathrm{T})`$. This proves (4).

To prove (3), we need to extend Lemma 3.6. Note that a base for a simple $`P`$-point need not be linearly ordered by $`^{}`$, and therefore need not be a simple $`P`$-point base according to our usage of this term.

###### Lemma 8.6.

Assume that $`𝒰=\{U_n\}_n`$ is a cover of $`X`$. The following are equivalent:

1. $`𝒰`$ is a $`\tau ^{}`$-cover of $`X`$ which cannot be split into two large covers of $`X`$; and
2. $`h_𝒰[X]`$ is a base for a simple $`P`$-point.

###### Proof.

$`12`$: $`𝒰`$ is, in particular, an $`\omega `$-cover which cannot be split into two large covers. By Lemma 3.6, $`Y=h_𝒰[X]`$ is base for a nonprincipal ultrafilter $`U`$ on $``$. By the definition of $`\tau ^{}`$-covers, $`Y`$ is linearly refinable. Let $`\widehat{Y}`$ be a linear refinement of $`Y`$. Then also $`\widehat{Y}`$ is reaping, and clearly it is centered. Thus, $`\widehat{Y}`$ generates a nonprincipal filter $`\stackrel{~}{U}`$ containing $`U`$. As $`U`$ is maximal, $`U=\stackrel{~}{U}`$ and $`\widehat{Y}`$ witnesses that $`U`$ is a simple $`P`$-point.

$`21`$: Assume that $`Y=h_𝒰[X]`$ is a base for a simple $`P`$-point $`U`$. Choose a linearly ordered base $`\widehat{Y}`$ for $`U`$. Then for each $`yY`$ there exists $`\widehat{y}\widehat{Y}`$ such that $`\widehat{y}^{}y`$. Thus $`\widehat{Y}`$ witnesses that $`Y`$ is linearly refinable. ∎

Consequently, a set of reals $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T}^{},C_\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ if, and only if, every continuous image of $`X`$ in $`P_{\mathrm{}}()`$ is not a base for a simple $`P`$-point.<sup>2</sup><sup>2</sup>2Here too, the analogue Borel version also holds. Moreover, we can show in a similar manner that the combinatorial counterpart of $`\neg \mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(C_\mathrm{T}^{},C_\mathrm{\Omega })`$ and its Borel version is a *subbase* for a simple $`P`$-point. This proves (3). ∎

With regard to finite products, only two problems remain open. It seems that we will not take a great risk by stating them as a conjecture.

###### Conjecture 8.7.

None of the classes $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$ and $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{T}}{\mathrm{\Gamma }}\right)`$ is provably closed under taking finite products.

In the case of finite powers, we have more problems waiting for a solution.

###### Problem 8.8.

Is any of the classes $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$, $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{\mathrm{\Omega }}{\mathrm{T}}\right)\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$, or $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{T},\mathrm{T})`$ closed under taking finite powers?

The best candidate (if any) for a positive answer seems to be $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$. Observe that the methods of  only give that if $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$, then for each open $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒰`$ of $`X^k`$ there exists a *refinement* $`𝒱`$ of $`𝒰`$ such that $`𝒱`$ is an open $`\omega `$-cover of $`X^k`$ that can be split into two disjoint $`\omega `$-covers of $`X^k`$.

We conclude this paper with the following related result. As we mentioned in the introduction, it is proved in  that if all finite powers of $`X`$ have the Hurewicz property, then $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$. As the critical cardinality of the Hurewicz property is $`𝔟`$ and it is consistent that $`𝔟<𝔯`$, the Hurewicz property is strictly stronger than $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Lambda },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ . Thus, the following theorem is strictly stronger than the quoted result.

###### Theorem 8.9.

Assume that for each $`k`$ $`X^k`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. Then $`X`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$. (The analogue assertions for the clopen and Borel cases also hold.)

###### Proof.

We say that $`𝒰`$ is a *$`k`$-cover* of $`X`$ if ($`X`$ is not contained in any member of $`𝒰`$, and) each $`k`$-element subset of $`X`$ is covered by some member of $`𝒰`$. Thus $`𝒰`$ is a $`k`$-cover of $`X`$ if, and only if,

$$𝒰^k=\{U^k:U𝒰\}$$

is a cover of $`X^k`$. Also, observe that $`𝒰`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ if, and only if, $`𝒰^k`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X^k`$.

###### Lemma 8.10.

Assume that $`X^k`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$. Then each open $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒰`$ of $`X`$ can be split into two disjoint subsets $`𝒱`$ and $`𝒲`$ such that $`𝒱`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ and $`𝒲`$ is a $`k`$-cover of $`X`$.

###### Proof.

Assume that $`𝒰`$ is an open $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$. Then for each $`k`$, $`𝒰^k`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X^k`$, and, by the assumption, can be split into two disjoint large covers $`𝒱^k`$ and $`𝒲^k`$. Consequently, $`𝒱`$ and $`𝒲`$ are (large) $`k`$-covers of $`X`$. As $`𝒰=𝒱𝒲`$ and the property of being an $`\omega `$-cover is Ramseyan, at least one of the pieces $`𝒱`$ or $`𝒲`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$. ∎

Assume that $`𝒰`$ is an open $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$. As $`X^2`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$, we have by Lemma 8.10 that $`𝒰=𝒱_1𝒲_1`$ ($``$ denotes disjoint union) where $`𝒱_1`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ and $`𝒲_1`$ is a $`2`$-cover of $`X`$. Continue inductively: Given an open $`\omega `$-cover $`𝒱_{k1}`$ ($`k>1`$) of $`X`$, use the fact that $`X^{k1}`$ satisfies $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$ and Lemma 8.10 to split $`𝒱_{k1}=𝒱_k𝒲_k`$ such that $`𝒱_k`$ is an $`\omega `$-cover of $`X`$ and $`𝒲_k`$ is an $`k+1`$-cover of $`X`$. Set

$$𝒰_1=\underset{n}{}𝒲_{2n+1},𝒰_2=\underset{n}{}𝒲_{2n}.$$

Then $`𝒰_1`$ and $`𝒰_2`$ are disjoint subcovers of $`𝒰`$, and they are $`k`$-covers of $`X`$ for all $`k`$, that is, $`\omega `$-covers of $`X`$. ∎

Thus, in order to prove that $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ is closed under taking finite powers, it is enough to show that all finite powers of members of $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Omega })`$ satisfy $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(\mathrm{\Omega },\mathrm{\Lambda })`$.

### 9. Summary of open problems

One may argue that the property $`\mathrm{𝖲𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗍}(𝔘,𝔙)`$ is only (or, at least, more) interesting when $`𝔘𝔙`$. If we accept this thesis, then no classification problem (Part 1) remains open, and the more interesting problems in Part 2 are Problems 6.8, 7.5 (for the first three properties), 8.7 (for the first property), and 8.8 (for the first and last properties).

On the other hand, the other problems (5.9, 7.5 for the fourth property, 8.7 for the second property, and 8.8 for the second property), which involve properties of the form $`\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{𝔘}{𝔙}\right)`$, rise naturally in many other contexts, published (e.g, ) and unpublished. In this sense, these problems are not less, and maybe more, interesting.

##### Acknowledgements.

We thank Andreas Blass for the useful details on reference , Saharon Shelah for the proof of Lemma 5.8, and the referee for the extension of Theorem 6.6 to its current form.