We study ultrafilters on countable sets and reaping families which are indestructible by Sacks forcing. We deal with the combinatorial characterization of such families and we prove that every reaping family of size smaller than the continuum is Sacks indestructible. We prove that complements of many definable ideals are Sacks reaping indestructible, with one notable exception, the complement of the ideal Z of sets of asymptotic density zero. We investigate the existence of Sacks indestructible ultrafilters and prove that every Sacks indestructible ultrafilter is a Z-ultrafilter.

Abstract We investigate the Tukey order in the class of $F_{\sigma }$ ideals of subsets of $\omega $ . We show that no nontrivial $F_{\sigma }$ ideal is Tukey below a $G_{\delta }$ ideal of compact sets. We introduce the notions of flat ideals and gradually flat ideals. We prove a dichotomy theorem for flat ideals isolating gradual flatness as the side of the dichotomy that is structurally good. We give diverse characterizations of gradual flatness among flat ideals using Tukey reductions and games. For example, we show that gradually flat ideals are precisely those flat ideals that are Tukey below the ideal of density zero sets.

Abstract Let ${\cal I}$ be an ideal on ω. By cov ${}_{}^{\rm{*}}({\cal I})$ we denote the least size of a family ${\cal B} \subseteq {\cal I}$ such that for every infinite $X \in {\cal I}$ there is $B \in {\cal B}$ for which $B\mathop \cap \nolimits X$ is infinite. We say that an AD family ${\cal A} \subseteq {\cal I}$ is a MAD family restricted to ${\cal I}$ if for every infinite $X \in {\cal I}$ there is $A \in {\cal A}$ such that $|X\mathop \cap \nolimits A| = \omega$ . Let a $\left( {\cal I} \right)$ be the least size of an infinite MAD family restricted to ${\cal I}$ . We prove that If $max$ {a,cov ${}_{}^{\rm{*}}({\cal I})\}$ then a $\left( {\cal I} \right) = {\omega _1}$ , and consequently, if ${\cal I}$ is tall and $\le {\omega _2}$ then a $\left( {\cal I} \right) = max$ {a,cov ${}_{}^{\rm{*}}({\cal I})\}$ . We use these results to prove that if c $\le {\omega _2}$ then o $= \overline o$ and that as $= max$ {a,non $({\cal M})\}$ . We also analyze the problem whether it is consistent with the negation of CH that every AD family of size ω1 can be extended to a MAD family of size ω1.

Abstract In this note we study generic existence of maximal almost disjoint (MAD) families. Among other results we prove that Cohen-indestructible families exist generically if and only if b = c. We obtain analogous results for other combinatorial properties of MAD families, including Sacks-indestructibility and being +-Ramsey.

Abstract We answer a question of Garcia-Ferreira and Hrušák by consistently constructing a MAD family maximal in the Katětov order. We also answer several questions of Garcia-Ferreira.

Abstract A metric space (X, d) ismonotoneif there is a linear order < onXand a constantcsuch thatd(x, y)≤c d(x, z)for allx<y<zinX. We investigate cardinal invariants of theσ-idealMongenerated by monotone subsets of the plane. Since there is a strong connection between monotone sets in the plane and porous subsets of the line, plane and the Cantor set, cardinal invariants of these ideals are also investigated. In particular, we show that non(Mon) ≥mσ-linked, but non(Mon) <mσ-centeredis consistent. Also cov(Mon) <cand cof (N) < cov(Mon) are consistent.

Abstract We investigate the pair-splitting number which is a variation of splitting number, pair-reaping number which is a variation of reaping number and cardinal invariants of ideals on ω. We also study cardinal invariants ofFσ ideals and their upper bounds and lower bounds. As an application, we answer a question of S. Solecki by showing that the ideal of finitely chromatic graphs is not locally Katětov-minimal among ideals not satisfying Fatou's lemma.

Abstract It is relatively consistent with ZFC that every countable FUfin space of weight ℵ1 is metrizable. This provides a partial answer to a question of G. Gruenhage and P. Szeptycki [GS1].

Abstract An ordering (≤K) on maximal almost disjoint (MAD) families closely related to destructibility of MAD families by forcing is introduced and studied. It is shown that the order has antichains of size c and decreasing chains of length c+ bellow every element. Assuming t = c a MAD family equivalent to all of its restrictions is constructed. It is also shown here that the Continuum Hypothesis implies that for every ωω-bounding forcing ℙ of size c there is a Cohen-destructible, ℙ-indestructible MAD family. Finally, two other orderings on MAD families are suggested and an old construction of Mrówka is revisited.

Abstract In this paper we show that it is consistent with ZFC that the cardinality of every maximal cofinitary group of Sym(ω) is strictly greater than the cardinal numbers and .