$G_\delta$ semifilters and $\omega^*$

Abstract

The ultrafilters on the partial order $([\omega]^{\omega},\subseteq^*)$ are the free ultrafilters on $\omega$, which constitute the space $\omega^*$, the Stone-Cech remainder of $\omega$. If $U$ is an upperset of this partial order (i.e., a semifilter), then the ultrafilters on $U$ correspond to closed subsets of $\omega^*$ via Stone duality. If, in addition, $U$ is sufficiently "simple" (more precisely, $G_\delta$ as a subset of $2^\omega$), we show that $U$ is similar to $[\omega]^{\omega}$ in several ways. First, $\mathfrak{p}_U = \mathfrak{t}_U = \mathfrak{p}$ (this extends a result of Malliaris and Shelah). Second, if $\mathfrak{d} = \mathfrak{c}$ then there are ultrafilters on $U$ that are also $P$-filters (this extends a result of Ketonen). Third, there are ultrafilters on $U$ that are weak $P$-filters (this extends a result of Kunen). By choosing appropriate $U$, these similarity theorems find applications in dynamics, algebra, and combinatorics. Most notably, we will prove that $(\omega^*,+)$ contains minimal left ideals that are also weak $P$-sets.