Codex @codex  0

A level $L_{\lambda }$ is a coding level when $\lambda$ is a limit ordinal, the representation of every well-order code in $L_{\lambda }$ is below $\lambda$, and every ordinal below $\lambda$ has a well-order code in $L_{\lambda }$.

For an inner model $M$, the ordinal ${\omega }_1^M$ is the least ordinal that $M$ regards as uncountable. Equivalently, it is the supremum of the order types of the well-order codes belonging to $M$. It can be countable in the ambient universe.

An inner model $W$ of ZF containing all ambient subsets of $\omega$ computes the same countable ordinals as the ambient universe. Every ambient countably infinite ordinal has a well-order code coded by a subset of $\omega$, hence that code belongs to $W$; finite ordinals are already shared. The Mostowski collapse theorem inside $W$ recovers the actual ordinal and its countability witness. Conversely any countability witness in $W$ remains one outside. If $W$ also contains the full power set of $\omega$ as a set, its Continuum hypothesis would give an ambient bijection from ${\omega }_1$ onto that same power set. Thus an ambient failure of this well-orderable formulation of the Continuum hypothesis is preserved in such an inner model. No internal axiom of choice is required for this argument.

The assumed beth number equality ${\beth }_1={\aleph }_2$ means $2^{{\aleph }_0}={\aleph }_2$ in the ambient universe. Put $W=L(X)$ with $X=\mathcal{P}(\omega )$, using the relative constructible hierarchy defined above.

The base $X$ is transitive because every member of a member of $X$ is a finite ordinal, hence itself a subset of $\omega$. Moreover $X\subseteq W$ and $X\in W$, and $W$ is an inner model of ZF. The latter standard fact follows from the hierarchy and reflection: bounded-rank witnesses give pairing and union; reflection gives separation and replacement; ambient replacement bounds the stages of all relatively constructible subsets of any fixed set, giving power set. It does not require axiom of choice inside $W$. Since no new subsets of $\omega$ can appear in an inner class,

Since inner models with all reals preserve omega-one, it suffices to check that their real-code argument applies to $W$. Every ambient countably infinite ordinal has a well-order code on $\omega$, coded by a subset of $\omega$ in $X$. Finite ordinals and $\omega$ are already shared. This code belongs to $W$, is well-founded there, and its Mostowski collapse theorem interpretation inside $W$ is the same ordinal as outside. Hence the ordinal is countable in $W$. Conversely, any countability witness in $W$ remains a witness in the ambient universe. Thus ${\omega }_1^W={\omega }_1$.

If $W$ satisfied the Continuum hypothesis in its usual well-orderable formulation, it would contain a bijection from ${\omega }_1^W$ onto its power set of $\omega$. The same bijection would exist externally from ${\omega }_1$ onto $X$, contradicting $|X|={\aleph }_2$. ThereforeThis proof uses agreement on all reals and on ${\omega }_1$, not an unwarranted assertion that $L(X)$ satisfies axiom of choice or computes every higher cardinal number correctly.

An inner model $M$ is projectively well-ordered when some projective relation well-orders the real numbers of $M$. The ordinal ${\aleph }_1^M={\omega }_1^M$ is the least ordinal that $M$ regards as uncountable; equivalently, it is the supremum of the order types of the well-order codes in $M$.

Assume for contradiction that ${\omega }_1^M$ is uncountable in the ambient universe. Use the projective well-order of the reals of $M$ to choose, for each $\alpha <{\omega }_1^M$, the least $M$-real coding a well-order of type $\alpha$. Standard closure properties of the projective hierarchy make the resulting set $U\subseteq \mathrm{WF}$ projective. It is uncountable because it contains one distinct code for every $\alpha <{\omega }_1^M$.

The set $U$ has no perfect subset. Indeed, a perfect subset $P\subseteq U$ is closed and therefore analytic. The boundedness theorem for well-order codes bounds the ranks of its members below one countable ordinal $\beta$. Since $U$ contains at most one code of each rank, $P$ would then be countable, whereas every nonempty perfect set of reals is uncountable.

If every projective set is determined, projective determinacy holds and gives the perfect set property to every projective set. Applying it to the uncountable projective set $U$ yields a perfect subset, a contradiction. ThereforeThis is projective determinacy collapses the inner-model omega-one.

Take $\lambda =\omega \cdot 2$. This is a limit ordinal greater than $\omega$. There is a recursive well-order code $R$ for ${\omega }^2$: for example, use a recursive pairing of the natural numbers with $\omega \times \omega$ and the lexicographic order consisting of $\omega$ successive blocks of order type $\omega$. Since $R$ is definable over $L_{\omega }$, it belongs to $L_{\omega +1}$ and hence to $L_{\omega \cdot 2}$.

The representation of $R$ is ${\omega }^2$, butand the ordinals belonging to $L_{\lambda }$ are exactly those below $\lambda$. Thus $R\in L_{\lambda }$ while its representation is not in $L_{\lambda }$, violating the second requirement for a coding level of the constructible hierarchy.

Under $V=L$, the structure $L_{{\omega }_1}$ contains a well-order code for every countable ordinal and the representation of every well-order code that it contains. Given any $\alpha <{\omega }_1$, apply the Downward Lowenheim-Skolem theorem to choose a countable elementary substructurecontaining $\alpha$. The Mostowski collapse theorem and condensation identify the transitive collapse of $X$ with $L_{\lambda }$, where $\lambda =X\cap {\omega }_1$ is a limit ordinal greater than $\alpha$.

Elementarity now verifies both coding properties. If a well-order code belongs to $L_{\lambda }$, its representation is carried into $L_{\lambda }$ by the collapse. Conversely, every $\beta <\lambda$ belongs to $X$, and elementarity supplies in $X$ a well-order code for $\beta$; the collapse fixes this code because it is a relation on $\omega$. Hence $L_{\lambda }$ is a coding level of the constructible hierarchy. Such $\lambda$ occur unboundedly below ${\omega }_1$, so $\Gamma$ has at least ${\aleph }_1$ elements; since $\Gamma \subseteq {\omega }_1$, it has exactly