# Pullback a model in generic extension to a model in ground

Let $M\prec H_\theta$ be countable and $\mathbb P\in M$, then clearly $M[G]\prec H_\theta[G]$ for every $\mathbb P$-generic filter $G$ over $V$. then actually there exists a $\mathbb P$-name $\dot N$ such that $\dot N[G]=M[G]$, roughly speaking $\dot N=M\cap V^{\mathbb P}$($V^{\mathbb P}$ is the class of $\mathbb P$-names). Here by $M[G]$, I mean $\{\dot\sigma[G]:\dot\sigma\in M~ is~a~\mathbb P-name\}$. Is the converse true? More precisely:

Let $N\prec H_\theta[G]$ be countable is there a model $M\prec H_\theta^{V}$ including $\mathbb P$, such that $M[G]=N$?

• I guess you want $\mathbb{P}\in N$ in the main question? – Joel David Hamkins May 8 '17 at 15:15

First, let me point out that you don't need any properness at all to find the model $M$, if you are willing to find it in the extension in which $N$ lives. Namely, assume $\theta$ is sufficiently reflective and that $N\prec H_\theta[G]$. Now, simply let $M=N\cap H_\theta$. One can verify that $M\prec H_\theta$ by noting that $H_\theta$ is definable in $H_\theta[G]$ by the ground-model definability theorem, and from this it follows that $M\prec H_\theta$, since it will have the Skolem witnesses that suffice to verify the Tarski-Vaught criterion. Notice also that $M[G]=N$ and therefore $M[G]\cap H_\theta=M$. This implies that forcing with $G$ over $M$ did not add any new ordinals, and therefore the usual arguments show that $G$ is $M$-generic. So $M$ is just the kind of model you seek.
The trick here is that we do not get $M$ in $V$, but only possibly in $V[G]$.
But perhaps you have in mind the requirement that $M\in V$ in your question, and in this case, the answer is no, you cannot always achieve this, if you are allowed to select $N$ in $V[G]$.
Consider the case of adding a Cohen real $c$. Pick some very big $\theta$ and consider $H_\theta$. Pick some countable $M\prec H_\theta$ that does not exist in $V$. But since the forcing is c.c.c., this elementary substructure lifts to the case $M[c]\prec H_\theta[c]$. So $N=M[c]$ is a case where the restriction to the ground model is not available in $V$.
• I modified the question. Is $M[c]=M[G]$ as $M[G]$ is defined above? – Rahman. M May 8 '17 at 17:01
• Yes, every element $a\in N$ is $\text{val}(\sigma,G)$ for some $\sigma\in H_\theta$, and by elementarity, such a name $\sigma$ can be found in $N\cap H_\theta=M$, so every element of $N$ is the value by $G$ of a name in $M$. – Joel David Hamkins May 8 '17 at 18:25
• Thank you. sorry I don't understand why there is no $M^*\in V$ such that $M^*[c]=N=M[c]$? – Rahman. M May 8 '17 at 20:05