Tree forcing and definable maximal independent sets in hypergraphs

Abstract

We show that after forcing with a countable support iteration or a finite product of Sacks or splitting forcing over $L$, every analytic hypergraph on a Polish space admits a $\mathbf{\Delta}^1_2$ maximal independent set. As a main application we get the consistency of $\mathfrak{r} = \mathfrak{u} = \mathfrak{i} = \omega_2$ together with the existence of a $\Delta^1_2$ ultrafilter, a $\Pi^1_1$ maximal independent family and a $\Delta^1_2$ Hamel basis. This solves open problems of Brendle, Fischer and Khomskii and the author. We also show in ZFC that $\mathfrak{d} \leq \mathfrak{i}_{cl}$.