Regular embeddings of the stationary tower and Woodin's maximality theorem

Abstract

Abstract We present Woodin's proof that if there exists a measurable Woodin cardinal δ then there is a forcing extension satisfying all sentences ϕ such that CH + ϕ holds in a forcing extension of V by a partial order in V δ . We also use some of the techniques from this proof to show that if there exists a stationary limit of stationary limits of Woodin cardinals, then in a homogeneous forcing extension there is an elementary embedding j : V → M with critical point such that M is countably closed in the forcing extension.