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@misc{ramsey-theorem-seetapun,
  title = {{Seetapun's theorem}},
  howpublished = {Lesson 3 of \emph{Ramsey's theorem for pairs}, Computability Theory course notes},
  url = {/courses/ramsey-theorem/seetapun},
  note = {Unreleased working version}
}

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Lesson 3 of 3

Seetapun's theorem

Cone avoidance for cohesiveness by Mathias forcing; strong cone avoidance for the infinite pigeonhole principle by the forcing of Dzhafarov and Jockusch; Seetapun's theorem that every computable coloring of pairs has a homogeneous set not computing a given non-computable set; RT²₂ does not imply ACA₀.

45 min4 questions
Ramsey's theorem for pairs · lesson 3 of 3
  1. Ramsey's theorem in the arithmetic hierarchy
  2. Cohesiveness and stable colorings
  3. Seetapun's theorem

By Jockusch’s bounds, some computable colorings of pairs have no homogeneous set computable in ∅′\emptyset', while some computable coloring of triples forces all its infinite homogeneous sets to compute ∅′\emptyset'. Seetapun (1995) showed that pairs behave differently: for every non-computable set CC, every computable coloring of pairs has an infinite homogeneous set that does not compute CC. In particular, Ramsey’s theorem for pairs does not imply ACA0\mathsf{ACA}_0. We follow the proof of Dzhafarov and Jockusch (2009), which goes through the decomposition of the previous lesson: cohesive sets can avoid cones, and the infinite pigeonhole principle avoids cones for arbitrary instances.

Throughout, a set is identified with its characteristic sequence, and a finite string σ\sigma with the finite set {n<∣σ∣:σ(n)=1}\{ n < |\sigma| : \sigma(n) = 1 \}.

3.1 Mathias forcing

Definition 3.1.#

A Mathias condition is a pair (σ,X)(\sigma, X) with σ\sigma a string and XX an infinite set with min⁡X≥∣σ∣\min X \geq |\sigma|. A string τ\tau is compatible with (σ,X)(\sigma, X) if σ⪯τ\sigma \preceq \tau and every nn with ∣σ∣≤n<∣τ∣|\sigma| \leq n < |\tau| and τ(n)=1\tau(n) = 1 belongs to XX. A condition (τ,Y)(\tau, Y) extends (σ,X)(\sigma, X) if τ\tau is compatible with (σ,X)(\sigma, X) and Y⊆XY \subseteq X. A set GG satisfies (σ,X)(\sigma, X) if every prefix of GG of length at least ∣σ∣|\sigma| is compatible with it, that is, σ≺G\sigma \prec G and G∖σ⊆XG \setminus \sigma \subseteq X.

The string σ\sigma is the part of GG already decided, and the reservoir XX contains the elements that may still be added. A condition (τ,Y)(\tau, Y) extending (σ,X)(\sigma, X) is satisfied only by sets satisfying (σ,X)(\sigma, X).

3.2 Cone avoidance for cohesiveness

Theorem 3.2.#

Let ZZ be a set and C̸≤TZC \not\leq_T Z. Every ZZ-computable sequence R⃗\vec R has a cohesive set GG with C̸≤TZ⊕GC \not\leq_T Z \oplus G.

Proof of Theorem 3.2.

We build a sequence of Mathias conditions (σ0,X0)≥(σ1,X1)≥⋯(\sigma_0, X_0) \geq (\sigma_1, X_1) \geq \cdots, with (σ0,X0)=(ε,N)(\sigma_0, X_0) = (\varepsilon, \nat) and all reservoirs ZZ-computable, and let G=⋃sσsG = \bigcup_s \sigma_s, assuming the strings grow unboundedly. Then GG satisfies every condition. The steps of the construction handle, in a fixed order, three kinds of tasks.

Infinity. Given (σ,X)(\sigma, X), let n=min⁡Xn = \min X, and pass to (τ,X∖{0,…,n})(\tau, X \setminus \{0, \dots, n\}), where τ\tau extends σ\sigma by zeros up to position nn, and τ(n)=1\tau(n) = 1. The set GG then contains nn.

Cohesiveness for RiR_i. One of X∩RiX \cap R_i and X∖RiX \setminus R_i is infinite; pass to (σ,Y)(\sigma, Y) with YY that set, which is ZZ-computable. Then G∖σ⊆YG \setminus \sigma \subseteq Y, so G⊆∗RiG \subseteq^* R_i or G⊆∗Ri‾G \subseteq^* \overline{R_i}.

The requirement ΦeZ⊕G≠C\Phi^{Z \oplus G}_e \neq C. Given (σ,X)(\sigma, X), consider the following cases.

  1. There are xx and a string τ\tau compatible with (σ,X)(\sigma, X) with ΦeZ⊕τ(x) ⁣ ⁣↓≠C(x)\Phi^{Z \oplus \tau}_e(x)\converge \neq C(x). Pass to (τ,X∖{0,…,∣τ∣})(\tau, X \setminus \{0, \dots, |\tau|\}). Every GG satisfying it has ΦeZ⊕G(x)≠C(x)\Phi^{Z \oplus G}_e(x) \neq C(x), by the use principle.
  2. There is xx such that ΦeZ⊕τ(x)\Phi^{Z \oplus \tau}_e(x) diverges for every τ\tau compatible with (σ,X)(\sigma, X). Keep (σ,X)(\sigma, X). Every GG satisfying it has ΦeZ⊕G(x) ⁣ ⁣↑\Phi^{Z \oplus G}_e(x)\diverge: a convergent computation would converge with a prefix of GG, which is compatible.
  3. Otherwise, for every xx some compatible τ\tau gives a convergent computation, and all such computations give C(x)C(x). Then C≤TZC \leq_T Z: given xx, search, with ZZ and the ZZ-computable set XX, for a compatible τ\tau with ΦeZ⊕τ(x) ⁣ ⁣↓\Phi^{Z \oplus \tau}_e(x)\converge, and output its value. This case is excluded by hypothesis.

The resulting set GG is infinite, cohesive, and satisfies ΦeZ⊕G≠C\Phi^{Z \oplus G}_e \neq C for every ee.

The reservoirs must stay ZZ-computable for case 3 to give a reduction to ZZ. This is possible because the cohesiveness steps only intersect the reservoir with sets computable in ZZ.

3.3 Strong cone avoidance for the pigeonhole principle

The infinite pigeonhole principle for two colors asks, given a set AA, for an infinite subset of AA or of A‾\overline{A}. When AA is computable, AA or A‾\overline A itself is a computable solution. When AA is arbitrary, a solution may be forced to be complex: some infinite set AA has only infinite subsets computing a given set (see the exercises). The theorem of Dzhafarov and Jockusch says that the two sides cannot both be forced.

Lemma 3.3.#

For every set ZZ and every C̸≤TZC \not\leq_T Z, there is a Scott ideal containing ZZ and not containing CC.

Proof of Lemma 3.3.

Let Z0=ZZ_0 = Z, and Zn+1=Zn⊕PnZ_{n+1} = Z_n \oplus P_n with PnP_n PA relative to ZnZ_n and C̸≤TZn⊕PnC \not\leq_T Z_n \oplus P_n, by the cone avoidance basis theorem (Cone avoidance basis theorem) relativized to ZnZ_n. The ideal {X:∃n X≤TZn}\{ X : \exists n\ X \leq_T Z_n \} is a Scott ideal by Proposition 2.3 of “Weak König's lemma”, as in Theorem 2.4 of “Weak König's lemma”, and does not contain CC.

Theorem 3.4 (Dzhafarov, Jockusch).#

Let ZZ be a set and C̸≤TZC \not\leq_T Z. For every set AA, there is an infinite set HH with H⊆AH \subseteq A or H⊆A‾H \subseteq \overline{A}, and C̸≤TZ⊕HC \not\leq_T Z \oplus H.

Proof of Theorem 3.4.

Write A0=AA^0 = A and A1=A‾A^1 = \overline{A}. Let I\mathcal I be a Scott ideal containing ZZ and not CC (Lemma 3.3). If some infinite subset HH of A0A^0 or of A1A^1 belongs to I\mathcal I, then Z⊕H∈IZ \oplus H \in \mathcal I, so C̸≤TZ⊕HC \not\leq_T Z \oplus H, and we are done. Assume from now on:

(H) no infinite subset of A0A^0 or of A1A^1 belongs to I\mathcal I.

We build two sets G0⊆A0G^0 \subseteq A^0 and G1⊆A1G^1 \subseteq A^1 simultaneously, with conditions (σ0,σ1,X)(\sigma_0, \sigma_1, X): X∈IX \in \mathcal I is infinite with min⁡X≥∣σ0∣,∣σ1∣\min X \geq |\sigma_0|, |\sigma_1|, and the finite set σi\sigma_i is contained in AiA^i, for i<2i < 2. A condition (τ0,τ1,Y)(\tau_0, \tau_1, Y) extends (σ0,σ1,X)(\sigma_0, \sigma_1, X) if each (τi,Y)(\tau_i, Y) extends (σi,X)(\sigma_i, X) as Mathias conditions. The sets GiG^i are the unions of the strings σi\sigma_i along a sequence of conditions.

Infinity. Given a condition and i<2i < 2, the set X∩AiX \cap A^i is infinite: otherwise XX minus finitely many elements would be an infinite subset of A1−iA^{1-i} in I\mathcal I, contradicting (H). Let n∈X∩Ain \in X \cap A^i, extend σi\sigma_i by zeros and then 11 at position nn, and replace XX by X∖{0,…,n}X \setminus \{0, \dots, n\}.

The requirement Re0,e1\mathcal R_{e_0, e_1}: Φe0Z⊕G0≠C\Phi^{Z \oplus G^0}_{e_0} \neq C or Φe1Z⊕G1≠C\Phi^{Z \oplus G^1}_{e_1} \neq C. Fix a condition c=(σ0,σ1,X)c = (\sigma_0, \sigma_1, X). For x∈Nx \in \nat and v<2v < 2, say that cc answers (x,v)(x, v) if for every partition N=U0⊔U1\nat = U^0 \sqcup U^1, there are i<2i < 2 and a string τ\tau compatible with (σi,X∩Ui)(\sigma_i, X \cap U^i) (compatibility is defined as for Mathias conditions, even if X∩UiX \cap U^i is finite) with ΦeiZ⊕τ(x) ⁣ ⁣↓=v\Phi^{Z \oplus \tau}_{e_i}(x)\converge = v.

The set of partitions, coded as U0U^0, for which this fails is a Π10(Z⊕X)\Pi^0_1(Z \oplus X) class: failure means that every τ\tau compatible with (σi,X∩Ui)(\sigma_i, X \cap U^i), for both ii, gives no convergent computation with value vv, and each instance of this condition involves finitely many bits of U0U^0. By compactness, cc answers (x,v)(x, v) if and only if this class is empty, a Σ10(Z⊕X)\Sigma^0_1(Z \oplus X) property of (x,v)(x, v). Let WW be the set of pairs answered by cc; it is c.e. in Z⊕XZ \oplus X, which is a member of I\mathcal I.

  1. If (x,1−C(x))∈W(x, 1 - C(x)) \in W for some xx: apply the definition to the partition (A0,A1)(A^0, A^1). There are ii and τ\tau compatible with (σi,X∩Ai)(\sigma_i, X \cap A^i) with ΦeiZ⊕τ(x) ⁣ ⁣↓=1−C(x)\Phi^{Z \oplus \tau}_{e_i}(x)\converge = 1 - C(x). The new elements of τ\tau lie in AiA^i. Replacing σi\sigma_i by τ\tau and XX by X∖{0,…,∣τ∣}X \setminus \{0, \dots, |\tau|\} gives an extension forcing ΦeiZ⊕Gi(x)≠C(x)\Phi^{Z \oplus G^i}_{e_i}(x) \neq C(x).
  2. If (x,C(x))∉W(x, C(x)) \notin W for some xx: the Π10(Z⊕X)\Pi^0_1(Z \oplus X) class of partitions witnessing it is non-empty, and since I\mathcal I is a Scott ideal containing Z⊕XZ \oplus X, it has a member U0∈IU^0 \in \mathcal I, with U1=U0‾U^1 = \overline{U^0}. For some ii, X∩UiX \cap U^i is infinite; it belongs to I\mathcal I. The condition (σ0,σ1,X∩Ui)(\sigma_0, \sigma_1, X \cap U^i) extends cc, and every GiG^i satisfying (σi,X∩Ui)(\sigma_i, X \cap U^i) has ΦeiZ⊕Gi(x)≠C(x)\Phi^{Z \oplus G^i}_{e_i}(x) \neq C(x), divergent or different: a convergent computation with value C(x)C(x) would come from a compatible string.
  3. Otherwise, every xx has some vv with (x,v)∈W(x, v) \in W, and only v=C(x)v = C(x) occurs. Then CC is computable in Z⊕X∈IZ \oplus X \in \mathcal I, by enumerating WW: so C∈IC \in \mathcal I, a contradiction.

Conclusion. Build a sequence of conditions that handles infinity for both sides and every requirement Re0,e1\mathcal R_{e_0, e_1} in turn, and let G0G^0, G1G^1 be the limits. Both are infinite, Gi⊆AiG^i \subseteq A^i, and every requirement holds. If Φe0Z⊕G0=C\Phi^{Z \oplus G^0}_{e_0} = C for some e0e_0, then Φe1Z⊕G1≠C\Phi^{Z \oplus G^1}_{e_1} \neq C for every e1e_1, so C̸≤TZ⊕G1C \not\leq_T Z \oplus G^1. Otherwise C̸≤TZ⊕G0C \not\leq_T Z \oplus G^0. Either H=G0H = G^0 or H=G1H = G^1 works.

The heart of the proof is the disjunctive question: instead of asking whether some extension inside AiA^i forces a convergence, which is too complex since AA is arbitrary, one asks whether every partition of N\nat allows a convergence on one side. A positive answer applies in particular to (A0,A1)(A^0, A^1); a negative answer is witnessed by a partition in the Scott ideal, and the reservoir is shrunk to a side of this partition. The new reservoir is thus a solution, in I\mathcal I, of the instance U0U^0 of the pigeonhole principle, and (H) ensures that it still meets both A0A^0 and A1A^1 infinitely often.

3.4 Seetapun’s theorem

Theorem 3.5 (Seetapun).#

Let ZZ be a set and C̸≤TZC \not\leq_T Z. Every ZZ-computable coloring f:[N]2→2f : [\nat]^2 \to 2 has an infinite homogeneous set HH with C̸≤TZ⊕HC \not\leq_T Z \oplus H.

Proof of Theorem 3.5.

The sequence Rx={y:f({x,y})=1}R_x = \{ y : f(\{ x, y \}) = 1 \} is ZZ-computable. By Theorem 3.2, it has a cohesive set GG with C̸≤TZ⊕GC \not\leq_T Z \oplus G. Let pp enumerate GG in increasing order, and g({i,j})=f({p(i),p(j)})g(\{ i, j \}) = f(\{ p(i), p(j) \}); it is a stable coloring (Theorem 2.4), computable in Z⊕GZ \oplus G. By Theorem 3.4 with Z⊕GZ \oplus G in place of ZZ, applied to the limit set AgA_g, there is an infinite set KK contained in AgA_g or in its complement with C̸≤TZ⊕G⊕KC \not\leq_T Z \oplus G \oplus K. By Proposition 2.6 (2), g⊕Kg \oplus K computes an infinite homogeneous set LL for gg, and H=p[L]H = p[L] is homogeneous for ff, computable in Z⊕G⊕KZ \oplus G \oplus K. So C̸≤TZ⊕HC \not\leq_T Z \oplus H.

Corollary 3.6 (Seetapun).#

There is an ω-model of RCA0+RT22\mathsf{RCA}_0 + \mathsf{RT}^2_2 not containing ∅′\emptyset'. Consequently RT22\mathsf{RT}^2_2 does not imply ACA0\mathsf{ACA}_0 over RCA0\mathsf{RCA}_0.

Proof of Corollary 3.6.

Build sets Z0=∅≤TZ1≤T⋯Z_0 = \emptyset \leq_T Z_1 \leq_T \cdots with ∅′̸≤TZn\emptyset' \not\leq_T Z_n. Fix an enumeration of all pairs (e,m)(e, m) in which each pair appears infinitely often. At stage nn, take the next pair (e,m)(e, m) with m≤nm \leq n. If ΦeZm\Phi^{Z_m}_e is a coloring of [N]2[\nat]^2 with two colors, it is ZnZ_n-computable, and Theorem 3.5 gives an infinite homogeneous set HH with ∅′̸≤TZn⊕H\emptyset' \not\leq_T Z_n \oplus H; let Zn+1=Zn⊕HZ_{n+1} = Z_n \oplus H. Otherwise Zn+1=ZnZ_{n+1} = Z_n.

The class I={X:∃n X≤TZn}\mathcal I = \{ X : \exists n\ X \leq_T Z_n \} is a Turing ideal not containing ∅′\emptyset'. Every coloring in I\mathcal I is ΦeZm\Phi^{Z_m}_e for some e,me, m, and is handled at some stage, so it has a homogeneous set in I\mathcal I. By absoluteness, I\mathcal I satisfies RT22\mathsf{RT}^2_2, and it is not a jump ideal.

Together with Corollary 1.10, Seetapun’s theorem shows that RT22\mathsf{RT}^2_2 escapes the Big Five: it lies strictly below ACA0\mathsf{ACA}_0 and is not provable in WKL0\mathsf{WKL}_0. Liu (2012) proved that it does not imply WKL0\mathsf{WKL}_0 either, by showing that the infinite pigeonhole principle avoids PA degrees in the sense of Theorem 3.4; this is admitted here. Ramsey’s theorem for pairs is the first and most studied of a large family of combinatorial principles, the reverse mathematics zoo, many of which lie strictly below ACA0\mathsf{ACA}_0 without being equivalent to any of the Big Five.

3.5 Exercises

Exercise 3.7 ★.

Show that there is an infinite set AA all of whose infinite subsets compute a given set CC, and explain why this does not contradict Theorem 3.4.

Solution

Let A={⟨C ⁣↾n⟩:n∈N}A = \{ \langle C \uh n \rangle : n \in \nat \}, the set of codes of the prefixes of CC, with a coding in which longer strings have larger codes. An infinite subset of AA contains codes of arbitrarily long prefixes of CC, so it computes CC: to find C(x)C(x), search for an element coding a string of length larger than xx. If CC is not computable, Theorem 3.4 with Z=∅Z = \emptyset gives an infinite subset of AA or of A‾\overline{A} that does not compute CC; it cannot be a subset of AA, so it is a subset of A‾\overline{A}. There is no contradiction: the theorem only guarantees a solution on one of the two sides, without saying which.

Exercise 3.8 ★★.

Show that there is an ω-model of WKL0+RT22\mathsf{WKL}_0 + \mathsf{RT}^2_2 not containing ∅′\emptyset'.

Solution

Combine the constructions of Lemma 3.3 and Corollary 3.6: at even stages, add a set PP PA relative to ZnZ_n with ∅′̸≤TZn⊕P\emptyset' \not\leq_T Z_n \oplus P, by the relativized cone avoidance basis theorem; at odd stages, handle the next coloring with Theorem 3.5. The resulting Turing ideal is a Scott ideal, satisfies RT22\mathsf{RT}^2_2, and does not contain ∅′\emptyset'.

3.6 Notes and references

Seetapun’s theorem appeared in Seetapun and Slaman (1995); the original proof is a direct forcing argument. The proof given here is due to Dzhafarov and Jockusch (2009), with the cohesiveness step of Cholak, Jockusch and Slaman (2001). Liu’s theorem appeared in 2012. The surveys of Hirschfeldt and of Dzhafarov and Mummert describe the reverse mathematics zoo.

  • D. Seetapun and T. A. Slaman, On the strength of Ramsey’s theorem, Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 36 (1995), 570–582.
  • D. D. Dzhafarov and C. G. Jockusch, Jr., Ramsey’s theorem and cone avoidance, Journal of Symbolic Logic 74 (2009), 557–578.
  • L. Liu, RT²₂ does not imply WKL₀, Journal of Symbolic Logic 77 (2012), 609–620.
  • D. R. Hirschfeldt, Slicing the Truth, World Scientific, 2014.