A Measure Theoretic Proof of $\mathfrak p=\mathfrak t$

Abstract

Rothberger's question of whether the two cardinals $\mathfrak p$ and $\mathfrak t$ are equal, posed back in 1948, was only answered fairly recently in the affirmative. Here we answer the more difficult progenitor question (posed in the same place) on when filter-bases can be refined to towers. Of equal import, our proof that $\mathfrak p=\mathfrak t$ addresses issues raised by Gowers concerning the "proof path" of the original solution. This is applied to obtain a gap spectrum result for the ultrapowers $\mathbb N^{\mathbb N}\,/\,{\mathcal U}$.