If T is a model complete theory with the strict order property, then the theory of the models of T with an automorphism has no model companion.

Let T be a strongly minimal theory with quantifier elimination. We show that the class of existentially closed models of T{“σ is an automorphism”} is an elementary class if and only if T has the definable multiplicity property, as long as T is a finite cover of a strongly minimal theory which does have the definable multiplicity property. We obtain cleaner results working with several automorphisms, and prove: the class of existentially closed models of T{“σi is an automorphism”: i=1,2} is (...) an elementary class if and only if T has the definable multiplicity property. (shrink)

We study structures equipped with generic predicates and/or automorphisms, and show that in many cases we obtain simple theories. We also show that a bounded PAC field is simple. 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Assume that the class of partial automorphisms of the monster model of a complete theory has the amalgamation property. The beautiful automorphisms are the automorphisms of models ofT which: 1. are strong, i.e. leave the algebraic closure (inT eq) of the empty set pointwise fixed, 2. are obtained by the Fraïsse construction using the amalgamation property that we have just mentioned. We show that all the beautiful automorphisms have the same theory (in the language ofT plus one unary function symbol (...) for the automorphism), and we study this theory. In particular, we examine the question of the saturation of the beautiful automorphisms. We also prove that in some cases (in particular if the theory is ω-stable andG-trivial), almost all (in the sense of Baire categoricity) automorphisms of the saturated countable model are beautiful and conjugate. (shrink)