Changing the heights of automorphism towers

[bibtex key=HamkinsThomas2000:ChangingHeights]

If 𝐺 is a centreless group, then 𝜏⁑(𝐺) denotes the height of the automorphism tower of 𝐺. We prove that it is consistent that for every cardinal πœ† and every ordinal 𝛼 <πœ†, there exists a centreless group 𝐺 such that (a) 𝜏⁑(𝐺) =𝛼; and (b) if 𝛽 is any ordinal such that 1 ≀𝛽 <πœ†, then there exists a notion of forcing 𝑃, which preserves cofinalities and cardinalities, such that 𝜏⁑(𝐺) =𝛽 in the corresponding generic extension 𝑉𝑃.