proper morphisms

Posted by Dima Sustretov Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:11:00 GMT

This is the continuation of the last post. First I want to prove a couple of algebraic results that were glossed over last time.

Proposition 1 Noetherian value ring is a DVR.

Proof: By the above correspondence and Noetherianity there is an minimal element $l$ of the value group which is $> 0$. Take an arbitrary positive element $k$ of the value group and consider $k-1$, $k-2$, \ldots. Some $k-n$ must be $l$, otherwise $l$ is not minimal, that gives an isomorphism with ${\mathbb Z}$. ☐

Lemma 2 (Atiyah-MacDonald, Theorem~5.21) Let ${\mathcal O} \subset K$ be an integral local ring. Then there exists a valuation ring that dominates it. In fact, it is the maximal local ring that contains ${\mathcal O}$ with respect to the domination order.

Here is the easier dimension 1 version of this statement.

Proposition 3 Let $R$ be a dimension 1 local ring with maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$. Take the integral closure of $R$ in $Q(R)$ and let $\mathfrak{p}$ be a maximal ideal in $R^{int}$ such that $\mathfrak{p} \cap R = m$. Then the localisation $R^{int}_p$ is a valuation ring.

Proof: It is not hard to see that $R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$ is integral over $R$ (and integrally closed), hence Cohen-Seidenerg (going down) theorem applies, and we conclude that $R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$ is a local ring of dimension 1. In other words it has a unique prime ideal. Take an $x \in Q(R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}) = Q(R^{int})$. Let us denote $\mathfrak{q} = pR^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$. Consider $x \mathfrak{q}$. It is an (non-zero, as $x$ is) ideal, so either $x \cdot \mathfrak{q} = \mathfrak{q}$ or $x \cdot \mathfrak{q} = R$.

In the first case, take some generators of $\mathfrak{q}$, $a_1, \ldots, a_n$ ($\mathfrak{q}$ is finitely generated, since $R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$ is a finitely generated $R$-module). Since $x \cdot a_i \in \mathfrak{q}$

$$ x \cdot a_i = \sum b_{ij} a_j $$

or $(x \cdot I - B) \bar{a} = 0$. Multiply $(x \cdot I - B)$ by the matrix consisting of its minors. It is "almost" the inverse, in fact we get:

$$ \det (x \cdot I - B) \cdot I \cdot \bar{a} = 0 $$

so $\det (x \cdot I - B) = 0$. The latter is a monic polinomial with coefficients in $\mathfrak{q}$, hence $x \in (R^{int}_\mathfrak{p})^{int}=R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$.

In the second case, there are some $a_1, \ldots, a_n \in \mathfrak{q}$ such that $\sum_{i=1}^n a_i x^i = 1$. Muliply it by $x^{-n}$, then

$\displaystyle (1-a_0)x^{-n} + \sum a_i x^{i-n} = 0 $

But since $a_0$ belongs to the maximal ideal of the local ring $R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$, $(1-a_0)$ is invertible, and so $x^{-n} + \sum a_i' x^{i-n} = 0$, i.e. $x^{-1}$ is integral over $R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$, i.e. belongs to $R^{int}_\mathfrak{p}$. ☐

Note that in the proof of valuative criterion of separatedness we could have chosen $x_1$ and $x_0$ in such a way that ${\mathcal O}$ is one-dimensional, and therefore $R$ in the valuative criterion can be assumed to be a DVR (in this case, we only need to prove Lemma 2 for one-dimensional rings).

Proper morphisms

A morphism $f: X \rightarrow Y$ is called universally closed if for any morphism $g: Y' \rightarrow Y$ (base change), the morphism $f': X \times_{Y'} X \rightarrow Y'$ is a closed morphism, i.e. sends closed sets to closed sets.

A morphism $f: X \rightarrow Y$ is locally of finite type if $Y$ can be covered by affine $Y_i$ and $f^{-1}(Y_i)$ by affine $X_{ij}$-s with corresponding maps of rings $B_i \rightarrow A_{ij}$ such that $A_{ij}$ is finitely generated $B_i$-algebra. If there are finitely many $X_{ij}$ for each $Y_i$ then $f$ is called a morphism of finite type.

A morphism is called proper if it is of finite type, separated and universally closed.

Example. Let $f: {\mathbb A}^2 \rightarrow {\mathbb A}^1$ be the projection on one of the axes. It is not a closed morphism because the projection of $\mathrm{Spec}~ k[x,y]/(xy-1)$ is ${\mathbb A}^1 \setminus \{0\}$ which is open.

Recall that finite type = locally of finite type + quasi-compact. Violating the second condition contradicts properness.

Example. Let $f: X \rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}~{}k$ be a morphism which is not quasi-compact. Then $f$ is not universally closed.

Let $Y=\mathrm{Spec}~\,k[y_1, \ldots, y_n, \ldots]$. Let $Y_i$-s be the principal opens corresponding to $y_i$-s and let $\cup X_i$ be an infinite cover of $X$ which doesn't have a finite subcover. Let $Z$ be the complement in $X \times Y$ of $\cup X_i \times Y_i$ and $f': X \times Y \rightarrow Y$ be the projection onto the second coordinate corresponding to the base change $Y \rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}~\,k$. Then $f'(Z)$ consists of precisely such $y=(y_1, \ldots, y_n, \ldots)$ that $X \setminus \cup_{i\in I} X_i$ is non-empty where $I$ the set of $i$ such that $y_i$ is non-zero.

In particular, since $X$ is not quasi-compact, any $y$ with finitely many non-zero coordinates belongs to $f'(Z)$. Call the set of such $y$-s $V$, then $V \subset Z$. But $V$ is dense in $Y$ since it is not contained in any hypersurface. Indeed, for any hypersurface defined by a polynomial $g(y_1, \ldots, y_n)$ one can find a point $(\alpha_i)$ such that $g(\alpha_1, \ldots, \alpha_n) \neq 0$ and put all the coordinates starting from $n+1$ to 0. Since $Z$ is a proper subset of $Y$, it is not closed.

Theorem 4 (Valuative criterion of properness) Let $f: X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism of schemes, where $X$ is Noetherian. The morphism $f$ is proper if and only if for any valuation ring $R \subset K$ and any commuting diagram

\xymatrix{ \mathrm{Spec}~{}K \ar[d]^{\iota^*} \ar[r] & X \ar[d]^f\\ \mathrm{Spec}~{}R \ar@{.>}[ur] \ar[r] & Y\\ }

where $\iota^*$ is the morphism of schemes induced by the inclusion $R \subset K$, there exists a unique morphism $\mathrm{Spec}~ R \rightarrow X$ completing the diagram. The morphism $f$ is universally closed if and only if for any diagram as above there is at least one morphism that completes it.

The proof does not present much difficulty given the auxilary lemmas that we have proved last time. It is worth mentioning that the finite type requirement in the definition of properness is superfluous, and the universal closedness and separatedness criteria work for quasi-compact morphisms (for universal closedness it is crucial that quasi-compact is invariant under a base change).

Theorem 5 An integral morphism is universally closed.  

Proof: It follows from the conjunction of two statements: finite morphisms are closed, being integral is preserved under base change. Let us show the first.

Work locally in an affine open neighbourhood of some point on the destination: we have $R \subset S$ integral extension. So let $Z$ be a closed set and let $E=\overline{f(Z)}$. Consider the restriction of $f$ to $Z$. We need to show that $f$ is surjective onto $E$. Pick a point $x \in E$ and consider its local ring ${\mathcal O}_{E,x}$. We need to show that $\mathfrak{m}_x S \neq S$. We might as well replace $S$ by $S_x$. Note that $S_x$ is integral over $R_x$. Suppose $\mathfrak{m}_x S = S$, and take a finitely generated submodule $S' \subset S$ such that $1 \in \mathfrak{m}_x S'$. Now we can apply Nakayama's lemma to $S'$, $m_x S' = S'$ and we get $S'=0$, which is absurd, and we are done. ☐

This theorems yields an example of a morphism not (locally) of finite type, quasi-compact, universally closed: take a morphism corresponding to an infinite algebraic extension of fields.

Theorem 6 Let $R$ be a subring of a field $K$. Then the integral closure of $R$ is the intersection of all valuation rings that contain $R$.

Proof: It is not hard to see that a valuation ring is integral, from which one inclusion follows. We will prove the other one.

Let $x \notin R^{int}$. Then $x \notin R[1/x]$, for otherwise $x=\sum a_i x^{-i}$ and by multiplying by some $x^n$ we get a monic polynomial that $x$ satisfies. So $1/x$ is not a unit in $R[1/x]$. Then there is a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{p} \subset R[1/x], 1/x \in \mathfrak{p}$. By a result mentioned previously, $R[1/x]_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is dominated by a valuation ring $S$ with a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{q} \not\ni 1/x$. But since $1/x$ is not a unit, $x \notin S$. ☐

Theorem 7 Let $f: \mathrm{Spec}~{}A \rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}~{}B$ be a proper morphism of spectra of integral domains. Then it is finite.

Proof: Apply the criterion for $K=Q(B)$ and let $R$ range through all valuation rings that contain $A$. Then by the criterion $B$ embeds into every such $R$, hence $B \subset A^{int}$. ☐

However useful the valuative criterion may be, a generalisation of the last theorem can in fact be proved directly.

Lemma 8 Let $f: X \rightarrow S$ be universally closed and $g: Y \rightarrow S$ be separated. Then $h: X \rightarrow Y$ such that $f = g \circ h$ is universally closed.

Proof: By universal property of fibre product $h$ factors as $X \rightarrow X \times_S Y \rightarrow Y$ where the first map corresponds to $id$ and $h$ in the universal property diagram and the second one is projection no the second factor in the fibre product.

Consider the base change of the diagonal morphism $Y \rightarrow Y \times_S Y$ by the morphism $X \times_S Y \rightarrow Y \times_S Y$. By general nonsense, the base change is $X \times_Y Y$, since it satisfies the universal property.

$$
\xymatrix {
X \times_{h,Y,id} Y  \ar[r] \ar[d] & X\times_{f,S,g} Y
\ar[d]^{\Delta\circ \pi_2}\\
Y \ar[r]^\Delta & Y \times_S Y\\
}
$$

Since $\Delta$ is universally closed (as a closed embedding), the base changed morphism $X \times_{h,Y,id} Y \rightarrow X\times_{f,S,g} Y$ is also universally closed. Now notice that $X \times_{h,Y,id} Y \cong X$ and get back to factorisation of $h$ into $X \rightarrow X \times_S Y \rightarrow Y$. We have just shown that the first morphism is universally closed, and the second one is the base change of a universally closed morphism, hence their composition is universally closed. ☐

Theorem 9 Let $f: \mathrm{Spec}\ A \rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}\ B$ be a universally closed morphism of affine schemes. Then it is integral.

Proof: Pick an element $a \in A$ and consider the following diagram

 $$
\xymatrix {
\Spec\,A  \ar[d]^f \ar[r]^g & \Spec\,B[x]  \ar[dl]^{h} \ar@{^{(}->}[d] \\
\Spec\,B  & \PP{}_B^1 \ar[l]\\
}
$$ 

where $h$ is the morphism such that $h^*(P)=P(a), P \in B[x]$. We need to show that the ideal $I=(h^*)^{-1}(0)$, which geometrically corresponds to $\overline{f(\mathrm{Spec}~\,A)}$ contains a monic polynomial, it will witness the integrality of $a$.

Since $f$ is universally closed and $h$ is separated, $g$ is universally closed by the Lemma 8. But the same Lemma can be applied to deduce that the composition of $g$ with the inclusion ${\mathbb A}^1_B \hookrightarrow \mathbb{P}_B^1$ is (universally) closed. Therefore $\mathrm{Spec}~{}B[x]/I$ is closed in $\mathbb{P}_B^1$.

The projective line over $B$ is glued together from two affine schemes $U_0=\mathrm{Spec}~\,B[x]$ and $U_1=\mathrm{Spec}~\,B[y]$ glued along $U_{01}=\mathrm{Spec}~\,B[x,1/x]$, the embedding $U_{01} \hookrightarrow U_1$ given by the morphism of rings $B[y] \rightarrow B[x,1/x], y \mapsto 1/x$. For $Z=\mathrm{Spec}~{}B[x]/I$ to be closed in $\mathbb{P}_B^1$ the closure of $Z|_{U_{01}}$ in $U_1$ must be a proper subset of $U_{01}=D(y)$. So,

$$ Z|_{U_{01}}=\mathrm{Spec}~\,B[x]/I'\textrm{, where }I'=\{\dfrac{P(x)}{x^n} \mid P(x) \in I, n \geq 0\} $$

and the closure $Z'=\overline{Z|_{U_{01}}}$ in $U_1$ is $\mathrm{Spec}~\,B[y]/J$, where

$$ J=\{Q(1/y) \mid Q(x) \in I'\} \cap B[y]=\{Q(1/y)y^n \mid Q(x) \in I, n \geq \mathrm{deg}\,Q\} $$

For $Z'$ to be a proper subset of $D(y)$, $J$ and $y$ must generate $B[y]$. Then there exists a polynomial $Q(y)\in J$ such that $\alpha Q(y) + \beta y =1, \alpha, \beta \in B[y], n \geq \mathrm{deg}\,P$. It follows that there exists $P(x) \in I$ such that $\alpha P(1/x)x^n+\beta x=1$ or just $P(1/x)x^n+\beta x=1$ (since $\alpha P \in I$ too). The constant term of $P(1/x)x^n$ is then 1 and $n=\mathrm{deg}\,P$, but this means that the leading term coefficient in $P$ is 1, so we are done. ☐

(I have used the material from Atiyah-Macdonald, Stacks Project and some posts on MO).

valuative criterion of separatedness

Posted by Dima Sustretov Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:20:00 GMT

Here are some notes on the valuative criterion of separatedness, annoyingly detailed at times.

Let $f: X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism. Then by the universal property of the fibre product there is a diagonal morphism $\Delta: X \rightarrow X \times_Y X$ such that $p_1 \circ \Delta = p_2 \circ \Delta = id_X$.

The morphism $f$ is is called separated if $\Delta$ is a closed embedding.

Proposition 1 If $X, Y$ are affine, then $f$ is separated.

Proof: Let $X = \mathrm{Spec}{}S, Y = \mathrm{Spec}{}R$. Passing to the corresponding maps of rings we get $\Delta \circ p_1 = \Delta \circ p_2 = id$, $\Delta: S \otimes_R S \rightarrow S$. Then $\Delta$ is defined by $\Delta(s_1 \otimes s_2) = s_1 s_2$. This map is surjective, hence it corresponds to a closed embedding on $\mathrm{Spec}$-s. ☐

Example.  Let $X$ be the double affine line (over a field), i.e. $X = {\mathbb A}^1 \sqcup {\mathbb A}^1/\sim$ where $x \sim y \textrm{ iff } x \neq 0 \textrm{ or } y \neq 0$. There is a surjective map $p: X \rightarrow {\mathbb A}^1$. Let $p^{-1}(0)=\{a_1, a_2\}$. Let $f_1, f_2$ be two different sections of $p$, $f_1(0)=a_1, f_2(0)=a_2$. Let $\varphi$ be the morphism such that $p_1 \circ \varphi = f_1, p_2 \circ \varphi = f_2$ that exists by the universal property of the fibre product.

Then $\varphi$ coincides with $\Delta$ on ${\mathbb A}^1 \setminus \{0\}$. In particular, $\varphi.(A^1 \setminus \{0\}) \subset \Delta(X)$. Since $\varphi$ is continuous,

$\displaystyle \overline{\varphi(A^1 \setminus \{0\})} \subset \overline{\Delta(X)} $

but $\varphi(0) = (a_1, a_2) \in \overline{\varphi.(A^1 \setminus \{0\})}$ (again by continuity of $\varphi$) and $(a_1, a_2)$ is clearly not in $\Delta(X)$.

Lemma 2 Let $f: X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism. Then $f$ is separated if $\Delta(X)$ is closed in $X \times_Y X$.

Proof: Since we know that $\Delta(X)$ is closed, what is left to show is that the morphism of sheaves $\Delta: \mathcal{O}_{X \times_Y X} \rightarrow \Delta^* \mathcal{O}_X$ is surjective. Suffices to check it locally, in a neighbourhood of any point of $\Delta(X)$. But this follows from the affine case. In particular, we can cover $X$ and $Y$ by open affines, $X_i$ and $Y_j$ respectively, such that for any $X_i$ there is a $Y_j$ such that $f(X_i) \subset Y_j$ and apply the previous proposition to $X_i \times_{Y_j} X_i$ (indeed, these sets cover $X \times_Y X$). ☐

A subring $R$ of a field $K$ is called a valuation ring if for any $x \in K$ either $x \in R$ or $x^{-1} \in R$. Then $\mathfrak{m} = R \setminus R^\times \subset R$ is the maximal ideal of $R$. The factor $\Gamma = K^\times / R^\times$ is called the valuation group and the natural projection on the factor, $v: K^\times \rightarrow \Gamma$, is called the valuation map. By declaring the elements of $\mathfrak{m}$ positive one turns $\Gamma$ into a (totally) ordered group.

There is a correspondence

prime ideals of $R$ $\Longleftrightarrow$ subgroups $\Gamma'$ of $\Gamma$ such that $0 < y \leq x, x \in \Gamma'$ implies $y \in \Gamma'$

 

right to left is given by

$\displaystyle I(\Gamma') = \{ x \in R^\times \mid v(x) \notin \Gamma' \} $

In particular, if $\Gamma = \mathbb R$, $R$ has only one non-trivial prime ideal, $\mathfrak m$. We will further consider only valuation ring of this kind, i.e. $\mathrm{Spec}~R = \{(0), \mathfrak{m}\}$.

Let $X$ be a topological space. The specialisation pre-order on $X$ is defined as

$\displaystyle x \leq y \textrm{ iff } \overline{\{x\}} \subset \overline{\{y\}} $

If $X$ satisfies the $T_0$ separation axiom (for any $x,y \in X$ there is an open $O_x \ni x$, $y \notin O_x$ or there is an open $O_y \ni y, x \notin O_y$) then this is an order. If $x \leq y$ then one says that $x$ is a specilisation of $y$.

Theorem 3 (Valuative criterion of separatedness) Let $f: X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism of schemes, where $X$ is Noetherian. The morphism $f$ is separated if and only if for any valuation ring $R \subset K$ and any commuting diagram

where $\iota^*$ is the morphism of schemes induced by the inclusion $R \subset K$, there is at most one morphism $\mathrm{Spec}~R \rightarrow X$ completing the diagram

This breaks down into several lemmas. 

Lemma 4 Let $R \subset K$ be a valuation ring, $\mathrm{Spec}~R=\{\mathrm{Spec}~k, \mathrm{Spec}~K\}$. Let $\iota: \mathrm{Spec}\,k \rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}~R, \iota': \mathrm{Spec}~K \rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}~R $ be the natural morphisms. Let $f_1, f_2: \mathrm{Spec}~R \rightarrow X$ be two morphisms such that

$\displaystyle \begin{array}{lll} f_1 \circ \iota & = & f_1 \circ \iota\\ f_1 \circ \iota' & = & f_2 \circ \iota'\\ \end{array} $

Then $f_1 = f_2$.
 

Proof: Let $U=\mathrm{Spec}{}A$ be an open affine neighbourhood of $\iota(\mathrm{Spec}~k) \in X$. Since $f_1, f_2$ are continuous they factor through $U$ therefore we have maps $f_1^*: A \rightarrow R \hookrightarrow K, f_2^*: A \rightarrow R \hookrightarrow K$ that coincide as morphisms to $K$ (since $f_1 \circ \iota' = f_2 \circ \iota'$), but then they just coincide. ☐

Let $R, S$ be two local subrings in $K$ with maximal ideals $\mathfrak{m}, \mathfrak{n}$. Then $R$ dominates $S$ if $R \supset S$ and $\mathfrak{m} \cap S = \mathfrak{n}$.

The stronger version à la Hartshorne:

Lemma 5 Let $R \subset K$ be a valuation ring. To give a morphism $f: \mathrm{Spec}{}R \rightarrow X$ is the same as to give the following data:
  • - $x_0, x_1 \in X$, $x_0 \in \overline{\{x_1\}}$;
  • - inclusion $\kappa(x_1) \subset K$ such that $R$ dominates $\mathcal{O}_{\overline{\{x_1\}}, x_0}$. 

Proof: Let $f: \mathrm{Spec}{}R \rightarrow X$ be a morphism. Let $x_0 = f(\mathrm{Spec}{}k)$, $x_1 = f(\mathrm{Spec}{}K)$. Take an affine $U \ni x$, $U = \mathrm{Spec}{}A$. Then the restriction of $f$ to $\mathrm{Spec}{}K$ gives a morphism $A \rightarrow K$. Let $\mathfrak{p}_0$ be the ideal of $A$ corresponding to $x_0$, and $\mathfrak{p}_1$ be the ideal corresponding to $x_1$, $\mathfrak{p}_1 \subset \mathfrak{p}_0$.

 Remarks:

  • $(A/\mathfrak{p}_1) \otimes A_{\mathfrak{p}_1} = A_{\mathfrak{p}_1} / \mathfrak{p}_1 A_{\mathfrak{p}_1} = Q(A/\mathfrak{p}_1)$;
  • $A/\mathfrak{p}_1 \rightarrow R$ is an inclusion, and since $A/\mathfrak{p}_1$ is an integral domain, $A/\mathfrak{p}_1 \rightarrow (A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0}$ is an inclusion too;
  • we know that $\mathfrak{m} \cap A/\mathfrak{p}_1 = \mathfrak{p}_0$, it follows by tensoring with $(A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0}$ that $\mathfrak{m} \cap (A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0} = \mathfrak{p}_0 \otimes (A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0} = \mathfrak{m}_{x_0}$
  • $(A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0} \subset R$. Indeed, an element from the first ring is of the form $a/b$ where $a \in A_{\mathfrak{p}_1}, b \notin \mathfrak{p}_0$. Since, $a \in R$, the question boils down to whether $b$ is invertible in $R$. But it is, since it does not belong to the maximal ideal;

Therefore, $R$ dominates over $\mathcal{O}_{\overline{x_1},x_0}$.

Given the data as in the statement of the lemma, choose an affine $U = \mathrm{Spec}{}A$, $x_0 \in U$. We are given the inclusion $\kappa(x_1) = Q(A/\mathfrak{p}_1) \rightarrow K$, therefore we have a morphism $A \rightarrow K$. We need to prove that it factors through $R$ and that the preimage of $\mathfrak{m} \subset R$ is $\mathfrak{p}_0 \subset A$, the ideal corresponding to $x_0$.

Since $R$ dominates $(A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0}$, $R \supset (A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0} \supset A/\mathfrak{p}_1$, and therefore our morphism goes actually to $R$: $f: A \rightarrow R$. The other part of the definition of domination tells us that $\mathfrak{m} \cap (A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0} = \mathfrak{p}_0 \otimes (A/\mathfrak{p}_1)_{\mathfrak{p}_0}$. Taking intersection with $A/\mathfrak{p}_1$ we get $\mathfrak{m} \cap A/\mathfrak{p}_1 = \mathfrak{p}_0 \otimes A/\mathfrak{p}_1$, which was to be shown.

Lemma 6 (EGA II.7.2.1, essentially uses EGA I.6.6.5) Let $f: X \rightarrow Y$ be a quasi-compact morphism. Then $f(X)$ is closed in $Y$ if and only if $f(X)$ is stable under specialisations (i.e. $x \leq y$, $y \in f(X)$ implies $x \in f(X)$).

Proof: Given $f: X \rightarrow Y$ there exists $f': X_{red} \rightarrow Y_{red}$ that commutes with the natural projections, so we might as well suppose $X$ and $Y$ reduced. We also can replace $Y$ by $\overline{f(X)}$. So suppose $f(X)$ is stable under specialisations and $y \in \overline{f(X)}$. We need to show that $y \in f(X)$. Consider an affine open $U \ni y$. It suffices to show $y \in f(X) \cap U$.

Since $f$ is quasi-compact, $X$ is covered by a finite number of open affines $X = \cup X_i$. Therefore $y \in \overline{f(\cup X_i)}$ and since there are finitely many $X_i$-s there is an $i$ such that $y \in \overline{f(X_i)}$ (that's where we have used quasi-compactness). $\overline{f(X_i)} \cap U$ is closed hence affine, say $\mathrm{Spec}{}B$, let $X_i = \mathrm{Spec}{}A$. We have an inclusion $B \hookrightarrow A$ (since $f$ is dominant). Let $\mathfrak{p}'$ be the minimal prime ideal contained in $\mathfrak{p}_y \in \mathrm{Spec}{}B$.

Consider the localisation of $A$ at $\mathfrak{p}'$ as a $B$-module. Then $B_{\mathfrak{p}'} \hookrightarrow B_{\mathfrak{p}'} \otimes A$. But $B_{\mathfrak{p}'}$ is a field. So any proper ideal $\mathfrak{q}' \subset A \otimes B_{\mathfrak{p}'}$ has the property $\mathfrak{q}' \cap B_{\mathfrak{p}'} = (0)$.

Let $\mathfrak{q}=h^{-1}(\mathfrak{q}')$ where $h$ is the localisation map. Then $\mathfrak{q} \cap B = \mathfrak{p}'$.

☐ 

Lemma 7 (Atiyah-MacDonald, Corollary 5.22) Let $\mathcal{O}  \subset K$ be an integral local ring. Then there exists a valuation ring in $K$ that  dominates $\mathcal{O}$. It the maximal ring among local subrings of $K$ ordered by domination relation.

Proof of the valuative criterion.
Necessity. Given that $\Delta(X)$ is stable under specialisations suppose for contradiction that $h_1, h_2: \mathrm{Spec} R \rightarrow X$ are two morphisms that make the diagram commute. By the universal property of fibre product there exists a morphism $\varphi: \mathrm{Spec} R \rightarrow X \times_Y X$ such that $p_1 \circ \varphi = h_1, p_2 \circ \varphi = h_2$. Since the upper triangle of the diagram commutes, $\mathrm{Spec} K \in \mathrm{Spec} R$ is mapped by $\varphi$ to $(\mathrm{Spec} K, \mathrm{Spec} K)$. But $\varphi(\mathrm{Spec} k)$ is a specialisation of this point, hence also belongs to $\Delta(X)$. Therefore restrictions of $h_1$ and $h_2$ to $\mathrm{Spec} k$ coincide and hence $h_1 = h_2$ (by our lemma).

Sufficiency. We need to prove that $\Delta(X)$ is stable under specialisations. Let $x_1 \in \Delta(X)$ and $x_0$ be its specialisation. Then let $K = \kappa(x_1)$ and let $\mathcal{O} \subset K$ be the local ring of $x_0$ on $\overline{\{x_1\}}$ with induced reduced scheme structure. There is a valuation ring $R$, a subring of $K$, dominationg $\mathcal{O}$. We therefore have a morphism $\varphi: \mathrm{Spec}{}R \rightarrow \Delta(X)$, and $\varphi(\mathrm{Spec}{}k)=x_0$. Therefore, $x_0 \in \Delta(X)$. ☐

 

Morphisms of schemes

Posted by Dima Sustretov Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:58:00 GMT

Recall that a scheme is a locally ringed space ${(X, {\mathscr O}_x)}$, i.e. a topological space and a sheaf of rings, such that for any ${x \in X}$ the stalk ${{\mathscr O}_{x,X}}$ is a local ring. Recall that the stalk is ${\left.\varprojlim_{U \ni x}\right. {\mathscr O}_X(U)}$.

An affine scheme is the scheme one gets from a commutative ring ${A}$ as follows:

$\displaystyle  \begin{array}{l} X = \mathrm{Spec} A = \{\mathfrak{p} \subseteq A \textrm{, prime }\}\\ \quad \quad \quad \textrm{ with the base of topology } X_f = \{\mathfrak{p} \mid f \notin \mathfrak{p}\} \textrm{ where } f \in A\\ {\mathscr O}_X(X_f)=A_{(f)} \end{array} $

Let ${f: Y \rightarrow X}$ be a map of ringed spaces and ${{\mathscr F}}$ a sheaf on ${X}$. A pullback sheaf ${f^{-1}{\mathscr F}}$ is defined as follows:

$\displaystyle f^{-1}{\mathscr F}(U) = \varprojlim_{V \supseteq f(U)} {\mathscr F}(V) $

One has the natural map ${f^*: {\mathscr F} \rightarrow f^{-1}(F)}$. It is called inverse image map. One similarly defines ${f_*: Shv(X) \rightarrow Shv(Y)}$ and ${f^{-1}: \Gamma({\mathscr F},U) \rightarrow \Gamma(f_*({\mathscr F}),U)}$ for all ${U \subseteq X}$.

A morphism of locally ringed spaces is a morphism of underlying spaces ${f: Y \rightarrow X}$ and a morphism of sheaves ${f^*: f^{-1}{\mathscr O}_X \rightarrow {\mathscr O}_Y}$ (or ${f^*: {\mathscr O}_Y \rightarrow f_*{\mathscr O}_X}$), it is called local if the induced stalk morphisms map the maximal ideal to the maximal ideal.

Morphisms of affine schemes are induced by morphisms of rings (this is a theorem).

Non-local morphisms of ring spaces are not induced by ring morphisms. Example: a local ring and its field of fractions.

A morphism ${f: Y \rightarrow X}$ of schemes is called a closed immersion if it induces a homeomorphism between the underlying topological spaces of ${Y}$ and a closed subset of ${X}$ and is surjective on sections.

A scheme ${X}$ is called separated in the diagonal morphism ${\Delta: X \rightarrow X \times X}$ is a closed immersion (relative definition over some scheme ${S}$ is also possible).

Remark A category of schemes over a scheme ${S}$ in general does not have products, only fibred products, but it does have products if ${S}$ is separated.

A category of schemes over a scheme ${S}$ in general does not have a final object, but it does have one if ${S}$ is affine.