The paper is concerned with the existence of a universal graph at the successor of a strong limit singular μ of cofinality ℵ0. Starting from the assumption of the existence of a supercompact cardinal, a model is built in which for some such μ there are $\mu^{++}$ graphs on μ+ that taken jointly are universal for the graphs on μ+, while $2^{\mu^+} \gg \mu^{++}$ . The paper also addresses the general problem of obtaining a framework for consistency results at the (...) successor of a singular strong limit starting from the assumption that a supercompact cardinal κ exists. The result on the existence of universal graphs is obtained as a specific application of a more general method. (shrink)

Kojman, M. and S. Shelah, The universality spectrum of stable unsuperstable theories, Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 58 57–72. It is shown that if T is stable unsuperstable, and 1 [brvbar]T[brvbar], T stable and κ<κ then there is a universal tree of height κ + 1 in cardinality λ.

Our theme is that not every interesting question in set theory is independent of ZFC. We give an example of a first order theory T with countable D(T) which cannot have a universal model at ℵ1 without CH; we prove in ZFC a covering theorem from the hypothesis of the existence of a universal model for some theory; and we prove--again in ZFC--that for a large class of cardinals there is no universal linear order (e.g. in every regular $\aleph_1 < (...) \lambda < 2^{\aleph_0}$). In fact, what we show is that if there is a universal linear order at a regular λ and its existence is not a result of a trivial cardinal arithmetical reason, then λ "resembles" ℵ1--a cardinal for which the consistency of having a universal order is known. As for singular cardinals, we show that for many singular cardinals, if they are not strong limits then they have no universal linear order. As a result of the nonexistence of a universal linear order, we show the nonexistence of universal models for all theories possessing the strict order property (for example, ordered fields and groups, Boolean algebras, p-adic rings and fields, partial orders, models of PA and so on). (shrink)