Complexity in Young's Lattice

Abstract

We investigate the complexity of the partial order relation of Young's lattice. The definable relations are characterized by establishing the maximal definability property modulo the single automorphism given by conjugation; consequently, as an ordered set Young's lattice has an undecidable elementary theory and is inherently non-finitely axiomatizable but every ideal generates a finitely axiomatizable universal class of equivalence relations. We end with conjectures concerning the complexities of the $\Sigma_1$ and $\Sigma_2$-theories.