Additivity of the ideal of microscopic sets

Abstract

A set $M\subset\mathbb{R}$ is microscopic if for each $\varepsilon>0$ there is a sequence of intervals $(J_n)_{n\in\omega}$ covering $M$ and such that $|J_n|\leq \varepsilon^{n+1}$ for each $n\in\omega$. We show that there is a microscopic set which cannot be covered by a sequence $(J_n)_{n\in\omega}$ with $\{n\in\omega:J_n\neq\emptyset\}$ of lower asymptotic density zero. We prove (in ZFC) that additivity of the ideal of microscopic sets is $\omega_1$. This solves a problem of G. Horbaczewska. Finally, we discuss additivity of some generalizations of this ideal.