Pcf theory and Woodin cardinals

Abstract

We prove the following two results. Theorem A: Let alpha be a limit ordinal. Suppose that 2^{|alpha|}<aleph_alpha and 2^{|alpha|^+}<aleph_{|alpha|^+}, whereas aleph_alpha^{|alpha|}>aleph_{|alpha|^+}. Then for all n< omega and for all bounded X subset aleph_{|alpha|^+}, M_n^#(X) exists. Theorem B: Let kappa be a singular cardinal of uncountable cofinality. If {alpha<kappa| 2^alpha=alpha^+} is stationary as well as co-stationary then for all n< omega and for all bounded X subset kappa, M_n^#(X) exists. Theorem A answers a question of Gitik and Mitchell, and Theorem B yields a lower bound for an assertion discussed in Gitik, M., Introduction to Prikry type forcing notions, in: Handbook of set theory, Foreman, Kanamori, Magidor (see Problem 4 there). The proofs of these theorems combine pcf theory with core model theory. Along the way we establish some ZFC results in cardinal arithmetic, motivated by Silver&#39;s theorem and we obtain results of core model theory, motivated by the task of building a ``stable core model.&#39;&#39; Both sets of results are of independent interest.