The theory of dense linear orders without end-points is not $2^\omega$-categorical

model-theoryorder-theory

It seems best to prove this by counter example. Both $\mathbb{R}$ and $I := \mathbb{R} \backslash \mathbb{Q}$ under the usual order $<$ are models of the theory of dense linear orders without end-points and I think they are not isomorphic (if I understand the definition correctly, that means there is no order preserving bijection between $\mathbb{R}$ and $I$). I couldn't manage to prove this.

My thoughts so far: suppose there exists such an isomorphism $\beta: \mathbb{R} \to I$, then no irrational elements can be mapped to $\beta(\mathbb{Q})$, which messes up the order maybe because $\mathbb{Q}$ is dense in $\mathbb{R}$?

Best Answer

In the irrationals, take a sequence decreasing to $0$, then look at where those points map in the reals. Those real points will be a bounded decreasing sequence, therefore they will have a real limit $x$. Where does $x$ map in the irrationals ... call it $y$. Then $y<0$, but then there are irrationals between $y$ and $0$ and that should give you a contradiction since $x$ was the limit of the decreasing real sequence.