A New Construction Principle

Abstract

We use the framework of Abstract Elementary Classes ($\mathrm{AEC}$s) to introduce a new Construction Principle $\mathrm{CP}(\mathbf{K},\ast)$, which generalises the Construction Principle of Eklof, Mekler and Shelah and allows for many novel applications beyond the setting of universal algebra. From this we derive, in ZFC, that several uncountably categorical classes of structures are not axiomatisable in the logic $\mathfrak{L}_{\infty,\omega_1}$, and, under $V=L$, that they are not axiomatisable in $\mathfrak{L}_{\infty,\infty}$. In particular, our methods apply to: free products of cyclic groups of fixed order, direct sums of a fixed torsion-free abelian group of rank $1$ which is not $\mathbb{Q}$, free $(k,n)$-Steiner systems, and free generalised $n$-gons.