A Kunen-Like Model with a Critical Failure of the Continuum Hypothesis

Abstract

We construct a model of the form $L[A,U]$ that exhibits the simplest structural behavior of $\sigma$-complete ultrafilters in a model of set theory with a single measurable cardinal $\kappa$ , yet satisfies $2^\kappa = \kappa^{++}$. This result establishes a limitation on the extent to which structural properties of ultrafilters can determine the cardinal arithmetic at large cardinals, and answers a question posed by Goldberg concerning the failure of the Continuum Hypothesis at a measurable cardinal in a model of the Ultrapower Axiom. The construction introduces several methods in extensions of embeddings theory and fine-structure-based forcing, designed to control the behavior of non-normal ultrafilters in generic extensions.