In set theory, a mouse is a small model of (a fragment of) Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory with desirable properties. The exact definition depends on the context. In most cases, there is a technical definition of "premouse" and an added condition of iterability (referring to the existence of wellfounded iterated ultrapowers): a mouse is then an iterable premouse. The notion of mouse generalizes the concept of a level of Gödel's constructible hierarchy while being able to incorporate large cardinals.
Mice are important ingredients of the construction of core models. The concept was isolated by Ronald...