The descriptive set-theoretical complexity of the embeddability relation on models of large size

Abstract

We show that if κ is a weakly compact cardinal then the embeddability relation on (generalized) trees of size κ is invariantly universal. This means that for every analytic quasi-order R on the generalized Cantor space 2^κ there is an L_{κ^+ κ}-sentence ϕ such that the embeddability relation on its models of size κ, which are all trees, is Borel bireducible (and, in fact, classwise Borel isomorphic) to R. In particular, this implies that the relation of embeddability on trees of size κ is complete for analytic quasi-orders. These facts generalize analogous results for κ=ω obtained in [LR05, FMR11], and it also partially extends a result from [Bau76] concerning the structure of the embeddability relation on linear orders of size κ.

arXiv comment41 pages, revised version, accepted for publication on the Annals of Pure and Applied Logic. Corrected an inaccuracy in the definition of analytic subsets of standard Borel kappa-spaces (thanks to P. Luecke and P. Schlicht for pointing it out)