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Let $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$ be the theory in second-order logic (with the standard semantics) gotten from $\mathsf{ZFC}$ by modifying the Separation and Replacement schemes to apply to arbitrary second-order formulas. For example, for each second-order formula $\varphi$ with only first-order free variables $x_1,...,x_n,x_{n+1}$ we have the Separation instance $$\forall x_1,...,x_n,y\exists z\forall w(w\in z\leftrightarrow w\in y\wedge \varphi(x_1,...,x_n,w)).$$

Note that $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$ is not the same as the system called "second-order $\mathsf{ZFC}$" - see e.g. here.

Building off of this MSE question of mine, I'm interested in understanding the models of this theory. I'm hoping that by restricting to levels of the cumulative hierarchy we can get a clean answer:

Question 1: For which cardinals $\alpha$ do we have $V_\alpha\models\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$?

It's easy to show that every (strongly) inaccessible cardinal has this property; the converse, however, is not immediately clear to me. My current suspicion in fact is that (very) large cardinals imply the existence of non-inaccessible $\alpha$s with the above property, but I don't immediately see how to prove this.


As a secondary question, I'm also interested in a "Henkin version" of this question:

Question 2: For which $\alpha$ is there an $X\subseteq \mathcal{P}(V_\alpha)$ such that $(V_\alpha,X)$ forms a Henkin model of $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$?

At a glance I think that the least such $\alpha$ has countable cofinality, by a quick modification of the analogous argument for worldly cardinals, but I haven't had time yet to check the details.

Noah Schweber
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Complementing @JasonChen's answer: Assume ZFC+$I_1$ and let $j:V_{\lambda+1}\to V_{\lambda+1}$ be elementary, so $\lambda$ is the sup of the critical sequence of $j$. Then $V_{\lambda}$ models $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$, but $\mathrm{cof}(\lambda)=\omega$. For suppose $f:V_\alpha\to\lambda$ is cofinal and definable over $V_{\lambda+1}$ from the parameter $p\in V_{\lambda}$. Let $n<\omega$ be such that $\alpha,p\in V_{\mathrm{crit}(j_n)}$ (where $j_n=$ the $n$th iterate of $j$). Note that $j_n\circ f\neq f$, because taking $x\in V_\alpha$ with $f(x)>\mathrm{crit}(j_n)$, we get $j_n(f(x))>f(x)$. But $j_n\circ f=f$ because $j_n:V_{\lambda+1}\to V_{\lambda+1}$ is elementary and $j_n(p,\alpha)=(p,\alpha)$.

Edit, considering @AsafKaragila's comment on consistency strength: Consistency-wise, the assumption above was overkill; a measurable suffices. Assume ZFC + $\kappa$ is measurable. Let $G$ be Prikry generic at $\kappa$. So $\kappa$ has cofinality $\omega$ in $V[G]$. Claim: In $V[G]$, $V_\kappa$ models $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$. In fact, if $f:\omega\to\kappa$ is cofinal and $f$ is definable over $V_{\kappa+1}^{V[G]}$ from parameters in $V_\kappa$, then $f\in V$, so $f$ is bounded. Since $V_\kappa^{V[G]}=V_\kappa^V$, this is a consequence of the fact that $\mathrm{HOD}^{V[G]}_V=V$, i.e. if $X\in V[G]$ and $X\subseteq V$ and $X$ is definable over $V[G]$ from parameters in $V$, then $X\in V$. (This follows from the fact that if $p,q$ are Prikry conditions then there are generics $G_p,G_q$ with $p\in G_p$ and $q\in G_q$ and $V[G_p]=V[G_q]$.)

Edit 2: On the other hand, the kind of argument used in the paper "Inner models from extended logics: Part 1" referred to in @JasonChen's answer to show that in $L$, $V_\alpha$ models $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$ iff $\alpha$ is inaccessible, also works for the standard fine structural $L[\mathbb{E}]$ models $M$ for short extenders, for instance if $M$ has no largest cardinal, and assuming $M$ has Mitchell-Steel indexing, though I expect it would also work with Jensen indexing. So if those models are indeed consistent through ZFC + superstrongs, then one would need more than ZFC + ``There is a superstrong extender'' to prove there is a non-inaccessible $\alpha$ with $V_\alpha$ modelling $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$.

(The paper "The definability of the extender sequence $\mathbb{E}$ from $\mathbb{E}\upharpoonright\aleph_1$ in $L[\mathbb{E}]$" contains enough to generalize the argument of Kennedy, Magidor, Väänänen for $L$. The definability there is all done over $\mathcal{H}_\kappa$s, as it's more convenient, but that can be translated into the cumulative hierarchy with the usual coding; in the present case that's only actually needed at the very top, since we can assume $V_\alpha\models\mathrm{ZFC}$ to start with.)

Edit 3: Following @AsafKaragila's suggestions in the comments, we have:

Claim: Suppose $V_\lambda$ models $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$ but $\lambda$ is singular. Then for every $X\in V_\lambda$, $X^\#$ exists. Moreover, there is a proper class inner model $M$ with a measurable cardinal.

Proof: For simplicity take $X=\emptyset$. Suppose first that $0^\#$ does not exist. Note first that since $V_\lambda$ models ZFC, $\lambda$ is a (singular) strong limit cardinal. By Jensen's covering lemma, $\lambda$ is singular in $L$. Let $B$ be the constructibly least singularization. Then $B$ can be defined over $V_{\lambda+1}$ (without parameters), which contradicts $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$.

The argument for an inner model $M$ with a measurable is likewise, but using the Dodd-Jensen core model: We also have the appropriate version of covering for that core model $K=K^{\mathrm{DJ}}$, and $K|(\lambda^+)^K$ can also be defined in the codes over $V_{\lambda+1}$, and hence the least singularization of $\lambda$ in the $K$-order is definable.

So Edits 1 and 3 together give that ZFC + "There is a singular $\lambda$ such that $V_\lambda\models\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$" is equiconsistent with ZFC + "There is a measurable cardinal".

Farmer S
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    Interesting. Can we prove that if there is a singular cardinal satisfying this axiom then something like $0^#$ exists, or maybe even more? (core model coverings galore) – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 12:59
  • Nice point about the Prikry sequence... What about the sharps? Measurable cardinals tend to come with some sharps. – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 15:11
  • Also to simplify your claim about HOD and whatnot, it's just homogeneity (of its Boolean completion). Indeed, that's exactly what your last sentence is proving. – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 15:29
  • Very nice! Just checking: the above still does not establish that "There is a non-inaccessible $\alpha$ with $V_\alpha\models\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$" has large cardinal strength, right? – Noah Schweber Mar 09 '21 at 16:15
  • That's right... – Farmer S Mar 09 '21 at 16:26
  • @AsafKaragila, right, I don't know if it gives $0^\sharp$...@NoahSchweber actually it does imply $\alpha$ is inaccessible in $L$, by the argument for $L$. But I don't know if it gives anything beyond an inaccessible. – Farmer S Mar 09 '21 at 16:33
  • I guess it's enough to argue that if $\alpha$ has this certain property, then it has it in $L$ (by arguing that it is regular there, anyway). This would imply that a singular one is regular in $L$, so $0^#$ must exist. And probably we can argue that $\alpha$ is a sharp cardinal (i.e. every set in $V_\alpha$ has a sharp) or something like that (if my idea holds water). – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 16:48
  • Ah, yes, you're right, so it does give $X^\sharp$ for every $X\in V_\alpha$. – Farmer S Mar 09 '21 at 16:53
  • (As I mentioned above, the proof of Kennedy, Magidor, Väänänen shows $\alpha$ is inaccessible in $L$. And it relativizes to $L[X]$ for $X\in V_\alpha$. So your argument goes through.) – Farmer S Mar 09 '21 at 17:11
  • Great, so now we just need to show the other direction: if $\alpha$ is sharp, then it satisfies this version of ZFC(SOL). – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 17:13
  • What do you mean "this version"? – Farmer S Mar 09 '21 at 17:15
  • Sorry, I meant the one in the question (which isn't $\sf ZFC_2$). – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 17:27
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    (Also, I'll record my joy that the notion of "sharp cardinals" turns up here so naturally. Very nice!) – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 17:31
  • @AsafKaragila: Actually, as you suggested in the first place, your argument extends to show that if for some singular $\alpha$, $V_\alpha$ models ZFC(SOL), then there is an inner model with a measurable. So the consistency strength is exactly a measurable cardinal. (Use the Dodd-Jensen core model below a measurable, for which covering in the sense of $L$ also holds. It's also easily definable, so one can argue like for $L$.) – Farmer S Mar 09 '21 at 19:34
  • We can use this as an example for https://mathoverflow.net/questions/385732/proofs-of-theorems-that-proved-more-or-deeper-results-than-what-was-first-suppos :P – Asaf Karagila Mar 09 '21 at 20:00
  • @AsafKaragila It'd be good if the sharps etc is recorded in another answer. Do you want to put one with it? Otherwise I can incorporate it above. – Farmer S Mar 16 '21 at 15:13
  • You probably can write it better. I'm no authority when it comes to sharps. – Asaf Karagila Mar 16 '21 at 15:20
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As discussed in the comment, Theorem 8.5 in the paper Inner Models from Extended Logics: Part 1 by Kennedy, Magidor, and Väänänen gives a consistent answer that, assuming $V=L$, models of $\mathfrak{ZFC}(\mathsf{SOL})$ are exactly those isomorphic to models of $\mathsf{ZFC}$ of the form $L_\kappa$ where $\kappa$ is inaccessible.

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    I can only accept one answer and I've gone with Farmer's, but thank you very much for this citation! – Noah Schweber Mar 14 '21 at 20:16
  • @NoahSchweber This is interesting since inaccessibles $\kappa$ are precisely the cardinals such that $V_{\kappa+1}\models MK$. If a similar result holds for models of MK assuming $V=L$ then (assuming $V=L$) models of MK and $\mathfrak{ZFC}({\sf SOL})$ coincide exactly. – Alec Rhea Jun 18 '22 at 12:53