In this paper we study predimension inequalities in differential fields and define what it means for such an inequality to be adequate. Adequacy was informally introduced by Zilber, and here we give a precise definition in a quite general context. We also discuss the connection of this problem to definability of derivations in the reducts of differentially closed fields. The Ax-Schanuel inequality for the exponential differential equation (proved by Ax) and its analogue for the differential equation of the j-function (...) (established by Pila and Tsimerman) are our main examples of predimensions. We carry out a Hrushovski construction with the latter predimension and obtain a natural candidate for the first-order theory of the differential equation of the j-function. It is analogous to Kirby's axiomatisation of the theory of the exponential differential equation (which in turn is based on the axioms of Zilber's pseudo-exponentiation), although there are many significant differences. In joint work with Sebastian Eterović and Jonathan Kirby we have recently proven that the axiomatisation obtained in this paper is indeed an axiomatisation of the theory of the differential equation of the j-function, that is, the Ax-Schanuel inequality for the j-function is adequate. (shrink)

We give an axiomatic framework for the non-modular simple 0-categorical structures constructed by Hrushovski. This allows us to verify some of their properties in a uniform way, and to show that these properties are preserved by iterations of the construction.

In a relational language consisting of a single relation R, we investigate pseudofiniteness of certain Hrushovski constructions obtained via predimension functions. It is notable that the arity of the relation R plays a crucial role in this context. When R is ternary, by extending the methods recently developed by Brody and Laskowski, we interpret 〈Q+,<〉 in the 〈K+,≤∗〉-generic and prove that this structure is not pseudofinite. This provides a negative answer to the question posed in an earlier work by (...) Evans and Wong. This result, in fact, unfolds another aspect of complexity of this structure, along with undecidability and the strict order property proved in the mentioned earlier works. On the other hand, when R is binary, it can be shown that the 〈K+,≤∗〉-generic is decidable and pseudofinite. (shrink)

We construct an ab initio generic structure for a predimension function with a positive rational coefficient less than or equal to 1 which is unsaturated and has a superstable non-ω-stable theory.

Let \ be an ab initio amalgamation class with an unbounded increasing concave function f. We show that if the predimension function has a rational coefficient and f satisfies a certain assumption then the generic structure of \ has a model complete theory.

We show that the N₀-categorical structures produced by Hrushovski's predimension construction with a control function fit neatly into Shelah's $SOP_n $ hierarchy: if they are not simple, then they have SOP₃ and NSOP₄. We also show that structures produced without using a control function can be undecidable and have SOP.

We study smooth classes without the algebraic closure property. For such smooth classes we investigate the simplicity of the class of generic structures, in the context of Robinson theories.

We investigate the isomorphism types of combinatorial geometries arising from Hrushovski's flat strongly minimal structures and answer some questions from Hrushovski's original paper.