arXiv subjects

C. Ward Henson

Publications and source records attributed to C. Ward Henson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Existentially closed measure-preserving actions of free groups

This paper is motivated by the study of probability measure-preserving (pmp) actions of free groups using continuous model theory. Such an action is treated as a metric structure that consists of the measure algebra of the probability measure space expanded by a family of its automorphisms. We prove that the existentially closed pmp actions of a given free group form an elementary class, and therefore the theory of pmp $\mathbb{F}_k$-actions has a model companion. We show this model companion is stable and has quantifier elimination. We also prove that the action of $\mathbb{F}_k$ on its profinite completion with the Haar measure is metrically generic and therefore, as we show, it is existentially closed. We deduce our main result from a more general theorem, which gives a set of sufficient conditions for the existence of a model companion for the theory of $\mathbb{F}_k$-actions on a separably categorical, stable metric structure.

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arXiv2023

Model theory of probability spaces

This expository paper treats the model theory of probability spaces using the framework of continuous $[0,1]$-valued first order logic. The metric structures discussed, which we call probability algebras, are obtained from probability spaces by identifying two measurable sets if they differ by a set of measure zero. The class of probability algebras is axiomatizable in continuous first order logic; we denote its theory by $Pr$. We show that the existentially closed structures in this class are exactly the ones in which the underlying probability space is atomless. This subclass is also axiomatizable; its theory $APA$ is the model companion of $Pr$. We show that $APA$ is separably categorical (hence complete), has quantifier elimination, is $ω$-stable, and has built-in canonical bases, and we give a natural characterization of its independence relation. For general probability algebras, we prove that the set of atoms (enlarged by adding $0$) is a definable set, uniformly in models of $Pr$. We use this fact as a basis for giving a complete treatment of the model theory of arbitrary probability spaces. The core of this paper is an extensive presentation of the main model theoretic properties of $APA$. We discuss Maharam's structure theorem for probability algebras, and indicate the close connections between the ideas behind it and model theory. We show how probabilistic entropy provides a rank connected to model theoretic forking in probability algebras. In the final section we mention some open problems.

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arXiv2016

Asymptotically Hilbertian Modular Banach Spaces: Examples of Uncountable Categoricity

We give a criterion ensuring that the elementary class of a modular Banach space E (that is, the class of Banach spaces, some ultrapower of which is linearly isometric to an ultrapower of E) consists of all direct sums E\oplus_m H, where H is an arbitrary Hilbert space and \oplus_m denotes the modular direct sum. Also, we give several families of examples in the class of Nakano direct sums of finite dimensional normed spaces that satisfy this criterion. This yields many new examples of uncountably categorical Banach spaces, in the model theory of Banach space structures.

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arXiv2016

Generic orbits and type isolation in the Gurarij space

We study the question of when the space of embeddings of a separable Banach space $E$ into the separable Gurarij space $\mathbf G$ admits a generic orbit under the action of the linear isometry group of $\mathbf G$. The question is recast in model-theoretic terms, namely type isolation and the existence of prime models. We characterise isolated types over $E$ using tools from convex analysis. We show that if the set of isolated types over $E$ is dense, then a dense $G\_δ$ orbit exists, and otherwise all orbits are meagre. We then study some (families of) examples with respect to this dichotomy. We also point out that the class of Gurarij spaces is the class of models of an $\aleph\_0$-categorical theory with quantifier elimination, and calculate the density character of the space of types over $E$, answering a question of Avil{é}s et al.

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arXiv2013

Almost indiscernible sequences and convergence of canonical bases

We give a model-theoretic account for several results regarding sequences of random variables appearing in Berkes & Rosenthal \cite{Berkes-Rosenthal:AlmostExchangeableSequences}. In order to do this, {itemize} We study and compare three notions of convergence of types in a stable theory: logic convergence, i.e., formula by formula, metric convergence (both already well studied) and convergence of canonical bases. In particular, we characterise $\aleph_0$-categorical stable theories in which the last two agree. We characterise sequences which admit almost indiscernible sub-sequences. We apply these tools to $ARV$, the theory (atomless) random variable spaces. We characterise types and notions of convergence of types as conditional distributions and weak/strong convergence thereof, and obtain, among other things, the Main Theorem of Berkes & Rosenthal. {itemize}

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arXiv2009

Model-theoretic independence in the Banach lattices $L_p(μ)$

We study model-theoretic stability and independence in Banach lattices of the form $L_p(X,U,μ)$, where $1 \leq p < \infty$. We characterize non-dividing using concepts from analysis and show that canonical bases exist as tuples of real elements.

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arXiv2004

Model theory of probability spaces with an automorphism

The class of generic structures among those consisting of the measure algebra of a probability space equipped with an automorphism is axiomatizable by positive sentences interpreted using an approximate semantics. The separable generic structures of this kind are exactly the ones isomorphic to the measure algebra of a standard Lebesgue space equipped with an aperiodic measure-preserving automorphism. The corresponding theory is complete and has quantifier elimination; moreover it is stable with built-in canonical bases. We give an intrinsic characterization of its independence relation.

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