In model theory, a first-order theory is called model complete if every embedding of its models is an elementary embedding. Equivalently, every first-order formula is equivalent to a universal formula. This notion was introduced by Abraham Robinson.

Model companion and model completion

A companion of a theory T is a theory T* such that every model of T can be embedded in a model of T* and vice versa.

A model companion of a theory T is a companion of T that is model complete. Robinson proved that a theory has at most one model companion. Not every theory is model-companionable, e.g. theory of groups. However if T is an -categorical theory, then it always has a model companion.[1][2]

A model completion for a theory T is a model companion T* such that for any model M of T, the theory of T* together with the diagram of M is complete. Roughly speaking, this means every model of T is embeddable in a model of T* in a unique way.

If T* is a model companion of T then the following conditions are equivalent:[3]

If T also has universal axiomatization, both of the above are also equivalent to:

Examples

Non-examples

  • The theory of dense linear orders with a first and last element is complete but not model complete.
  • The theory of groups (in a language with symbols for the identity, product, and inverses) has the amalgamation property but does not have a model companion.

Sufficient condition for completeness of model-complete theories

If T is a model complete theory and there is a model of T that embeds into any model of T, then T is complete.[4]

Notes

References

  • Chang, Chen Chung; Keisler, H. Jerome (1990) [1973]. Model Theory. Studies in Logic and the Foundations of Mathematics (3rd ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-444-88054-3.
  • Hirschfeld, Joram; Wheeler, William H. (1975). "Model-completions and model-companions". Forcing, Arithmetic, Division Rings. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. Vol. 454. Springer. pp. 44–54. doi:10.1007/BFb0064085. ISBN 978-3-540-07157-0. MR 0389581.
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