Isomorphism and classification for countable structures

Abstract

We introduce a topology on the space of all isomorphism types represented in a given class of countable models, and use this topology as an aid in classifying the isomorphism types. This mixes ideas from effective descriptive set theory and computable structure theory, extending concepts from the latter beyond computable structures to examine the isomorphism problem on arbitrary countable structures. We give examples using specific classes of fields and of trees, illustrating how the new concepts can yield classifications that reveal differences between seemingly similar classes. Finally, we use a computable homeomorphism to define a measure on the space of isomorphism types of algebraic fields, and examine the prevalence of relative computable categoricity under this measure.