The Slicing Axioms

Abstract: We introduce the family of axioms, denoted $\operatorname{Slice}\kappa$, that claim the existence of strictly increasing decompositions of the form $$2^{\delta}=\bigcup{\alpha<\kappa} 2^{\delta}\cap M_\alpha,$$ where $\delta<\kappa$, and ${M_\alpha|\; \alpha<\kappa}$ is a $\subseteq$-increasing sequence of transitive models of set theory. We study compatibility of these axioms with versions of Martin's Axiom, and in particular show that $\operatorname{Slice}$ is compatible only with some very weak form of $MA$.