Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / iii / Paper 120 / 2 / c / Solution

The Ehrenfeucht-Mostowski theorem says that if a first-order theory $T$ has an infinite model, then for every total order $I$ there is a model $M\models T$ generated as the Skolem hull of distinct order indiscernibles $(a_i{)}_{i\in I}$, and every order automorphism of $I$ extends to an automorphism of $M$.

Given an infinite cardinal $\kappa$, let $I=\kappa \times \mathbb{Q}$ with the lexicographic order, viewed as $\kappa$ consecutive copies of the rational order. In each copy independently choose either the identity or a fixed nonidentity order automorphism of $\mathbb{Q}$. These choices give $2^{\kappa }$ distinct order automorphisms of $I$.

Apply the theorem to this order. Distinct order automorphisms act differently on the distinct generators $a_i$, so their extensions give an injection into the automorphism group of a first-order structure $\mathrm{Aut}(M)$. Therefore $|\mathrm{Aut}(M)|\ge 2^{\kappa }$, proving that $T$ has models with arbitrarily large automorphism groups.