The Construction Principle and superstability of free objects in varieties of algebras

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between the Eklof-Mekler-Shelah Construction Principle for a variety of algebras $\mathbf{V}$ and the question of superstability of the free objects in $\mathbf{V}$, denoted as ${\mathcal{F}}_{\mathbf{V}}$. We consider this question in the general setting of AEC-coverings of ${\mathcal{F}}_{\mathbf{V}}$, with applications to first-order logic and beyond. Our main result is that if a strong form of the Construction Principle is satisfied, then almost all AEC-covering of ${\mathcal{F}}_{\mathbf{V}}$ are unsuperstable. Concrete applications to $R$-modules and varieties of groups are also considered.