TITLE: Complete resolutions of GCH
QUESTION [14 upvotes]: Let's say that a "complete resolution of GCH" is a definable class function $F: \operatorname{Ord}\longrightarrow \operatorname{ Ord}$ such that $2^{\aleph_\alpha} = \aleph_{F(\alpha)}$ for all ordinals $\alpha$.  It is known of course that $F(\alpha) = \alpha+1$ is a complete resolution of GCH (in the positive) that is relatively consistent with ZFC. I read that it's an unpublished theorem of Woodin that $F(\alpha) = \alpha+2$ is a complete resolution of GCH that is relatively consistent with ZFC plus some large cardinal hypothesis.  My questions are: (1) What's the weakest known complete resolution of GCH in consistency strength other than $F(\alpha) = \alpha+1$ and what large cardinal axiom is required for it? (2) What are some other complete resolutions of GCH that are known to be consistent relative to specific large cardinal hypotheses, what are their respective large cardinal hypotheses, and how do these consistency strengths relate to one another?

REPLY [8 votes]: Let me add more examples:

If we consider the global behavior of the power function, then we have for example:

(A) (Foreman-Woodin): $F$ can be such that $F(\alpha)>\alpha+\omega,$ all $\alpha$ (modulo a supercompact and infinitely many inaccessibles above it). Note that by a result of Patai, there is no $\beta>\omega$ such that $F(\alpha)=\alpha+\beta,$  all $\alpha$.
Remark. In the above model, $F$ is not definable from the ground model, but we can go to intermediate submodel in which $F$ is definable.
(B) (Cummings): $F$ can be such that $F(\alpha)=\alpha+1,$ all successor $\alpha,$ and $F(\alpha)=\alpha+2,$ all limit $\alpha$ (modulo a $\kappa+3$-strong cardinal $\kappa$. By work of Gitik-Mitchell, we need more than a  $\kappa+2$-strong cardinal $\kappa$).
(C) (Merimovich): Let $2\leq n < \omega.$ Then $F$ can be taken to be $F(\alpha)=\alpha+n,$ all $\alpha$ (modulo a $\kappa+n+1$-strong cardinal $\kappa$.  By work of Gitik-Mitchell, we need more than a  $\kappa+n$-strong cardinal $\kappa$). 
(D) (Firedman-G): We can have (B) or (C) just by adding a single real to a model satisfying $GCH$. More precisely, the final model can be of the form $V[R],$ where $V\models GCH$ and $R$ is a real.

If we consider the local behavior of the power function, then we can say more:

(E) (Gitik-Merimovich): Let $2\leq m <\omega,$ and let $\phi: \omega\to \omega$ be such that $\phi$ is increasing and $\phi(n)>n,$ for all $n$. Then we can have $F(n)=\phi(n)$ and $F(\omega)=\omega+m$ (modulo a $\kappa+m$-strong cardinal $\kappa$).
(F) (Gitik): We can have $F$ defined on $\omega_1$ such that both sets $\{ \alpha<\omega_1: F(\alpha)=\alpha+2\}$ and $\{ \alpha<\omega_1: F(\alpha)=\alpha+3\}$  are stationary in $\omega_1$ (modulo suitable large cardinals. Some similar results are also proved by Gitik-Merimovich).

If we avoid choice, then an Easton like theorem is valid for all cardinals:

Let $\theta(\kappa)=sup\{\nu:$ there exists a surjection $f: p(\kappa)\to \nu \}.$ It is easily seen that $\theta(\kappa)>\kappa^+$ is a cardinal and it is increasing. The next theorem shows that these are the only restrictions that $ZF$ imposes on $θ(κ)$:
(G) (Fernengel-Koepke, based on an earlier result of Gitik-Koepke) Let $M$ be a ground model of $ZFC + GCH +$Global Choice. In $M$,
let $F$ be a function defined on the class of infinite cardinals such that
i. $F(κ)$ is a cardinal > $κ^+$;
ii. $κ < λ$ implies $F (κ)\leq F (λ)$.
Then there is an extension $N$ of $M$ which satisfies $ZF$, preserves cardinals and
cofinalities, and such that $θ (κ) = F (κ)$ holds for all cardinals in $N$.