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Joel David Hamkins
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Edit. I had posted this answer to complement Eric's original answer, which showed that the number of classes was at least ${\frak c}^+$, since at that time we didn't quite yet know whether there were $2^{\frak c}$ classes. Afterwards, however, Eric improved his answer to get $2^{\frak c}$ directly. Following the comments, though, I have left this answer up.


Let me complement Eric's answer by showing that it is relatively consistent to have strictly more than ${\frak c}^+$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, it is relatively consistent with ZFC to have $2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence class, in a case where this is larger than ${\frak c}^+$.

Specifically, I claim that if the continuum hypothesis holds and there is a thick Kurepa tree (an $\omega_1$ tree with $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches), then there are $2^{\omega_1}=2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, I shall construct an almost-disjoint family of $2^{\omega_1}$ many Vitali sets.

To see this, let $T$ be a thick Kurepa tree, and let $\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha<\omega_1\rangle$ enumerate the equivalence classes of reals under translation-by-a-rational. Label the $\alpha^{th}$ level of $T$ with the countably many elements of $A_\alpha$. For any path $s$ through $T$, the set $A_s$ of labels appearing on the nodes of $s$ will be a Vitali set, and therefore non-measurable. Further, any two distinct paths $s\neq t$ will have $A_s\cap A_t$ being countable, and so $A_s\not\sim A_t$. Since $T$ is a thick Kurepa tree, we therefore have $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches and thus this many equivalence classes modulo your relation. The collection $\{\ A_s\mid s\in[T]\ \}$ is an almost-disjoint family of $2^{\omega_1}$ many Vitali sets.

Finally, let me explain that it is relatively consistent from an inaccessible cardinal that there is a thick Kurepa tree, yet CH holds and $2^{\omega_1}$ is very large. One way to do this is as follows. Start with $\kappa$ inaccessible in $V$ and $2^\kappa$ very large (by forcing if necessary). Let $V[G]$ be the forcing extension by the Levy collapse, so that $\kappa=\omega_1^{V[G]}$. Consider the tree $T=(2^{<\kappa})^V$ in the model $V[G]$. Since every ordinal less than $\kappa$ was made countable, this has become an $\omega_1$-tree. Yet, since $2^\kappa$ was very large and cardinals $\kappa$ and above were preserved, we have $(2^\kappa)^V$ many branches through this tree. So it is thick.

Let me complement Eric's answer by showing that it is relatively consistent to have strictly more than ${\frak c}^+$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, it is relatively consistent with ZFC to have $2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence class, in a case where this is larger than ${\frak c}^+$.

Specifically, I claim that if the continuum hypothesis holds and there is a thick Kurepa tree (an $\omega_1$ tree with $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches), then there are $2^{\omega_1}=2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence classes.

To see this, let $T$ be a thick Kurepa tree, and let $\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha<\omega_1\rangle$ enumerate the equivalence classes of reals under translation-by-a-rational. Label the $\alpha^{th}$ level of $T$ with the countably many elements of $A_\alpha$. For any path $s$ through $T$, the set $A_s$ of labels appearing on the nodes of $s$ will be a Vitali set, and therefore non-measurable. Further, any two distinct paths $s\neq t$ will have $A_s\cap A_t$ being countable, and so $A_s\not\sim A_t$. Since $T$ is a thick Kurepa tree, we therefore have $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches and thus this many equivalence classes modulo your relation.

Finally, let me explain that it is relatively consistent from an inaccessible cardinal that there is a thick Kurepa tree, yet CH holds and $2^{\omega_1}$ is very large. One way to do this is as follows. Start with $\kappa$ inaccessible in $V$ and $2^\kappa$ very large (by forcing if necessary). Let $V[G]$ be the forcing extension by the Levy collapse, so that $\kappa=\omega_1^{V[G]}$. Consider the tree $T=(2^{<\kappa})^V$ in the model $V[G]$. Since every ordinal less than $\kappa$ was made countable, this has become an $\omega_1$-tree. Yet, since $2^\kappa$ was very large and cardinals $\kappa$ and above were preserved, we have $(2^\kappa)^V$ many branches through this tree. So it is thick.

Edit. I had posted this answer to complement Eric's original answer, which showed that the number of classes was at least ${\frak c}^+$, since at that time we didn't quite yet know whether there were $2^{\frak c}$ classes. Afterwards, however, Eric improved his answer to get $2^{\frak c}$ directly. Following the comments, though, I have left this answer up.


Let me complement Eric's answer by showing that it is relatively consistent to have strictly more than ${\frak c}^+$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, it is relatively consistent with ZFC to have $2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence class, in a case where this is larger than ${\frak c}^+$.

Specifically, I claim that if the continuum hypothesis holds and there is a thick Kurepa tree (an $\omega_1$ tree with $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches), then there are $2^{\omega_1}=2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, I shall construct an almost-disjoint family of $2^{\omega_1}$ many Vitali sets.

To see this, let $T$ be a thick Kurepa tree, and let $\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha<\omega_1\rangle$ enumerate the equivalence classes of reals under translation-by-a-rational. Label the $\alpha^{th}$ level of $T$ with the countably many elements of $A_\alpha$. For any path $s$ through $T$, the set $A_s$ of labels appearing on the nodes of $s$ will be a Vitali set, and therefore non-measurable. Further, any two distinct paths $s\neq t$ will have $A_s\cap A_t$ being countable, and so $A_s\not\sim A_t$. Since $T$ is a thick Kurepa tree, we therefore have $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches and thus this many equivalence classes modulo your relation. The collection $\{\ A_s\mid s\in[T]\ \}$ is an almost-disjoint family of $2^{\omega_1}$ many Vitali sets.

Finally, let me explain that it is relatively consistent from an inaccessible cardinal that there is a thick Kurepa tree, yet CH holds and $2^{\omega_1}$ is very large. One way to do this is as follows. Start with $\kappa$ inaccessible in $V$ and $2^\kappa$ very large (by forcing if necessary). Let $V[G]$ be the forcing extension by the Levy collapse, so that $\kappa=\omega_1^{V[G]}$. Consider the tree $T=(2^{<\kappa})^V$ in the model $V[G]$. Since every ordinal less than $\kappa$ was made countable, this has become an $\omega_1$-tree. Yet, since $2^\kappa$ was very large and cardinals $\kappa$ and above were preserved, we have $(2^\kappa)^V$ many branches through this tree. So it is thick.

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Joel David Hamkins
  • 236.3k
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Let me complement Eric's answer by showing that it is relatively consistent to have strictly more than ${\frak c}^+$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, it is relatively consistent with ZFC to have $2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence class, in a case where this is larger than ${\frak c}^+$.

Specifically, I claim that if the continuum hypothesis holds and there is a thick Kurepa tree (an $\omega_1$ tree with $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches), then there are $2^{\omega_1}=2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence classes.

To see this, let $T$ be a thick Kurepa tree, and let $\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha\omega_1\rangle$$\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha<\omega_1\rangle$ enumerate the equivalence classes of reals under translation-by-a-rational. Label the $\alpha^{th}$ level of $T$ with the countably many elements of $A_\alpha$. For any path $s$ through $T$, the set $A_s$ of labels appearing on the nodes of $s$ will be a Vitali set, and therefore non-measurable. Further, any two distinct paths $s\neq t$ will have $A_s\cap A_t$ being countable, and so $A_s\not\sim A_t$. Since $T$ is a thick Kurepa tree, we therefore have $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches and thus this many equivalence classes modulo your relation.

Finally, let me explain that it is relatively consistent from an inaccessible cardinal that there is a thick Kurepa tree, yet CH holds and $2^{\omega_1}$ is very large. One way to do this is as follows. Start with $\kappa$ inaccessible in $V$ and $2^\kappa$ very large (by forcing if necessary). Let $V[G]$ be the forcing extension by the Levy collapse, so that $\kappa=\omega_1^{V[G]}$. Consider the tree $T=(2^{<\kappa})^V$ in the model $V[G]$. Since every ordinal less than $\kappa$ was made countable, this has become an $\omega_1$-tree. Yet, since $2^\kappa$ was very large and cardinals $\kappa$ and above were preserved, we have $(2^\kappa)^V$ many branches through this tree. So it is thick.

Let me complement Eric's answer by showing that it is relatively consistent to have strictly more than ${\frak c}^+$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, it is relatively consistent with ZFC to have $2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence class, in a case where this is larger than ${\frak c}^+$.

Specifically, I claim that if the continuum hypothesis holds and there is a thick Kurepa tree (an $\omega_1$ tree with $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches), then there are $2^{\omega_1}=2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence classes.

To see this, let $T$ be a thick Kurepa tree, and let $\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha\omega_1\rangle$ enumerate the equivalence classes of reals under translation-by-a-rational. Label the $\alpha^{th}$ level of $T$ with the countably many elements of $A_\alpha$. For any path $s$ through $T$, the set $A_s$ of labels appearing on the nodes of $s$ will be a Vitali set, and therefore non-measurable. Further, any two distinct paths $s\neq t$ will have $A_s\cap A_t$ being countable, and so $A_s\not\sim A_t$. Since $T$ is a thick Kurepa tree, we therefore have $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches and thus this many equivalence classes modulo your relation.

Finally, let me explain that it is relatively consistent from an inaccessible cardinal that there is a thick Kurepa tree, yet CH holds and $2^{\omega_1}$ is very large. One way to do this is as follows. Start with $\kappa$ inaccessible in $V$ and $2^\kappa$ very large (by forcing if necessary). Let $V[G]$ be the forcing extension by the Levy collapse, so that $\kappa=\omega_1^{V[G]}$. Consider the tree $T=(2^{<\kappa})^V$ in the model $V[G]$. Since every ordinal less than $\kappa$ was made countable, this has become an $\omega_1$-tree. Yet, since $2^\kappa$ was very large and cardinals $\kappa$ and above were preserved, we have $(2^\kappa)^V$ many branches through this tree. So it is thick.

Let me complement Eric's answer by showing that it is relatively consistent to have strictly more than ${\frak c}^+$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, it is relatively consistent with ZFC to have $2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence class, in a case where this is larger than ${\frak c}^+$.

Specifically, I claim that if the continuum hypothesis holds and there is a thick Kurepa tree (an $\omega_1$ tree with $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches), then there are $2^{\omega_1}=2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence classes.

To see this, let $T$ be a thick Kurepa tree, and let $\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha<\omega_1\rangle$ enumerate the equivalence classes of reals under translation-by-a-rational. Label the $\alpha^{th}$ level of $T$ with the countably many elements of $A_\alpha$. For any path $s$ through $T$, the set $A_s$ of labels appearing on the nodes of $s$ will be a Vitali set, and therefore non-measurable. Further, any two distinct paths $s\neq t$ will have $A_s\cap A_t$ being countable, and so $A_s\not\sim A_t$. Since $T$ is a thick Kurepa tree, we therefore have $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches and thus this many equivalence classes modulo your relation.

Finally, let me explain that it is relatively consistent from an inaccessible cardinal that there is a thick Kurepa tree, yet CH holds and $2^{\omega_1}$ is very large. One way to do this is as follows. Start with $\kappa$ inaccessible in $V$ and $2^\kappa$ very large (by forcing if necessary). Let $V[G]$ be the forcing extension by the Levy collapse, so that $\kappa=\omega_1^{V[G]}$. Consider the tree $T=(2^{<\kappa})^V$ in the model $V[G]$. Since every ordinal less than $\kappa$ was made countable, this has become an $\omega_1$-tree. Yet, since $2^\kappa$ was very large and cardinals $\kappa$ and above were preserved, we have $(2^\kappa)^V$ many branches through this tree. So it is thick.

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Joel David Hamkins
  • 236.3k
  • 44
  • 777
  • 1.4k

Let me complement Eric's answer by showing that it is relatively consistent to have strictly more than ${\frak c}^+$ many equivalence classes. Indeed, it is relatively consistent with ZFC to have $2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence class, in a case where this is larger than ${\frak c}^+$.

Specifically, I claim that if the continuum hypothesis holds and there is a thick Kurepa tree (an $\omega_1$ tree with $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches), then there are $2^{\omega_1}=2^{\frak c}$ many equivalence classes.

To see this, let $T$ be a thick Kurepa tree, and let $\langle A_\alpha\mid\alpha\omega_1\rangle$ enumerate the equivalence classes of reals under translation-by-a-rational. Label the $\alpha^{th}$ level of $T$ with the countably many elements of $A_\alpha$. For any path $s$ through $T$, the set $A_s$ of labels appearing on the nodes of $s$ will be a Vitali set, and therefore non-measurable. Further, any two distinct paths $s\neq t$ will have $A_s\cap A_t$ being countable, and so $A_s\not\sim A_t$. Since $T$ is a thick Kurepa tree, we therefore have $2^{\omega_1}$ many branches and thus this many equivalence classes modulo your relation.

Finally, let me explain that it is relatively consistent from an inaccessible cardinal that there is a thick Kurepa tree, yet CH holds and $2^{\omega_1}$ is very large. One way to do this is as follows. Start with $\kappa$ inaccessible in $V$ and $2^\kappa$ very large (by forcing if necessary). Let $V[G]$ be the forcing extension by the Levy collapse, so that $\kappa=\omega_1^{V[G]}$. Consider the tree $T=(2^{<\kappa})^V$ in the model $V[G]$. Since every ordinal less than $\kappa$ was made countable, this has become an $\omega_1$-tree. Yet, since $2^\kappa$ was very large and cardinals $\kappa$ and above were preserved, we have $(2^\kappa)^V$ many branches through this tree. So it is thick.