We define a generalized notion of rank for stable theories without dense forking chains, and use it to derive that every type is domination-equivalent to a finite product of regular types. We apply this to show that in a small theory admitting finite coding, no realisation of a nonforking extension of some strong type can be algebraic over some realisation of a forking extension.

We prove: Theorem. A complete first order theory in a countable language which is strictly stable, trivial and which admits finite coding has 2 ℵ 0 nonisomorphic countable models. Combined with the corresponding result or superstable theories from [4] our result confirms the Vaught conjecture for trivial theories which admit finite coding.

Let G be a stable abelian group with regular modular generic. We show that either 1. there is a definable nongeneric K ≤ G such that G/K has definable connected component and so strongly regular generics, or 2. distinct elements of the division ring yielding the dependence relation are represented by subgroups of G × G realizing distinct strong types (when regarded as elements of G eq ). In the latter case one can choose almost 0-definable subgroups representing the elements (...) of the division ring. We find a bound $((G: G^0))$ for the size of the division ring in case G has no definable subgroup K so that G/K is infinite with definable connected component. We show in case (2) that the group G/H, where H consists of all nongeneric points of G, inherits a weakly minimal group structure from G naturally, and Th(G/H) is independent of the particular model G as long as G/H is infinite. (shrink)

Suppose T is a weakly minimal theory and p a strong 1-type having locally finite but nontrivial geometry. That is, for any M [boxvR] T and finite Fp, there is a finite Gp such that acl∩p = gεGacl∩pM; however, we cannot always choose G = F. Then there are formulas θ and E so that θεp and for any M[boxvR]T, E defines an equivalence relation with finite classes on θ/E definably inherits the structure of either a projective or affine space (...) over some finite field. We then specify what other structure θ/E may inherit: there is some collection of definable subspaces of finite codimension and some set of algebraic points, which in the affine case may be in the canonically associated vector space, Up to acl, no further structure is possible. If we assume T is weakly minimal and has a strong type p as above, and also that T is unidimensional, we obtain a global description of any model of T in terms of those structures mentioned in the previous paragraph. (shrink)

We give several characterizations of weakly minimal abelian structures. In two special cases, dual in a sense to be made explicit below, we give precise structure theorems: 1. When the only finite 0-definable subgroup is {0}, or equivalently 0 is the only algebraic element (the co-strongly minimal case); 2. When the theory of the structure is strongly minimal. In the first case, we identify the abelian structure as a "near-subspace" A of a vector space V over a division ring D (...) with its induced structure, with possibly some collection of distinguished subgroups of A of finite index in A and (up to $acl(\emptyset)$ ) no further structure. In the second, the structure is that of V/A for a vector space and near-subspace as above, with the only further possible structure some collection of distinguished points. Here a near-subspace of V is a subgroup A such that for any nonzero d ∈ D, the index of $A\cap dA$ in A is finite. We also show that any weakly minimal abelian structure is a reduct of a weakly minimal module. (shrink)

A reduct of a first-order structure is another structure on the same set with perhaps fewer definable predicates. We consider reducts of the complex field which are proper but nontrivial in a sense to be made precise in the paper. Our main result lists seven kinds of reducts. The list is complete in the sense that every reduct is a finite cover of one of these. We also investigate when two items on our list can be the same, in a (...) couple of natural senses. (shrink)