On the consistency of ZF with an elementary embedding from $V_{λ+2}$ into $V_{λ+2}$
Farmer Schlutzenberg
Abstract
According to a theorem due to Kenneth Kunen, under ZFC, there is no ordinal $λ$ and non-trivial elementary embedding $j:V_{λ+2}\to V_{λ+2}$. His proof relied on the Axiom of Choice (AC), and no proof from ZF alone has been discovered. $I_{0,λ}$ is the assertion, introduced by W. Hugh Woodin, that $λ$ is an ordinal and there is an elementary embedding $j:L(V_{λ+1})\to L(V_{λ+1})$ with critical point ${<λ}$. And $I_0$ asserts that $I_{0,λ}$ holds for some $λ$. The axiom $I_0$ is one of the strongest large cardinals not known to be inconsistent with AC. It is usually studied assuming ZFC in the full universe $V$ (in which case $λ$ must be a limit ordinal), but we assume only ZF. We prove, assuming ZF + $I_{0,λ}$ + "$λ$ is an even ordinal", that there is a proper class transitive inner model $M$ containing $V_{λ+1}$ and satisfying ZF + $I_{0,λ}$ + "there is an elementary embedding $k:V_{λ+2}\to V_{λ+2}$"; in fact we will have $k\subseteq j$, where $j$ witnesses $I_{0,λ}$ in $M$. This result was first proved by the author under the added assumption that $V_{λ+1}^\#$ exists; Gabe Goldberg noticed that this extra assumption was unnecessary. If also $λ$ is a limit ordinal and $λ$-DC holds in $V$, then the model $M$ will also satisfy $λ$-DC. We show that ZFC + "$λ$ is even" + $I_{0,λ}$ implies $A^\#$ exists for every $A\in V_{λ+1}$, but if consistent, this theory does not imply $V_{λ+1}^\#$ exists.