In the mathematical field of set theory, the Solovay model is a model constructed by Robert M. Solovay (1970) in which all of the axioms of Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory (ZF) hold, exclusive of the axiom of choice, but in which all sets of real numbers are Lebesgue measurable. The construction relies on the existence of an inaccessible cardinal.
In this way Solovay showed that the axiom of choice is essential to the proof of the existence of a non-measurable set, at least granted that the existence of an inaccessible cardinal is consistent with ZFC, the axioms of Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory including the axiom of choice.
ZF stands for Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, and DC for the axiom of dependent choice.
Solovay's theorem is as follows. Assuming the existence of an inaccessible cardinal, there is an inner model of ZF + DC of a suitable forcing extension V[G] such that every set of reals is Lebesgue measurable, has the perfect set property, and has the Baire property.
Solovay constructed his model in two steps, starting with a model M of ZFC containing an inaccessible cardinal κ.
The first step is to take a Levy collapse M[G] of M by adding a generic set G for the notion of forcing that collapses all cardinals less than κ to ω. Then M[G] is a model of ZFC with the property that every set of reals that is definable over a countable sequence of ordinals is Lebesgue measurable, and has the Baire and perfect set properties. (This includes all definable and projective sets of reals; however for reasons related to Tarski's undefinability theorem the notion of a definable set of reals cannot be defined in the language of set theory, while the notion of a set of reals definable over a countable sequence of ordinals can be.)