
## 5.9 Noetherian topological spaces

Definition 5.9.1. A topological space is called Noetherian if the descending chain condition holds for closed subsets of $X$. A topological space is called locally Noetherian if every point has a neighbourhood which is Noetherian.

Lemma 5.9.2. Let $X$ be a Noetherian topological space.

1. Any subset of $X$ with the induced topology is Noetherian.

2. The space $X$ has finitely many irreducible components.

3. Each irreducible component of $X$ contains a nonempty open of $X$.

Proof. Let $T \subset X$ be a subset of $X$. Let $T_1 \supset T_2 \supset \ldots$ be a descending chain of closed subsets of $T$. Write $T_ i = T \cap Z_ i$ with $Z_ i \subset X$ closed. Consider the descending chain of closed subsets $Z_1 \supset Z_1\cap Z_2 \supset Z_1 \cap Z_2 \cap Z_3 \ldots$ This stabilizes by assumption and hence the original sequence of $T_ i$ stabilizes. Thus $T$ is Noetherian.

Let $A$ be the set of closed subsets of $X$ which do not have finitely many irreducible components. Assume that $A$ is not empty to arrive at a contradiction. The set $A$ is partially ordered by inclusion: $\alpha \leq \alpha ' \Leftrightarrow Z_{\alpha } \subset Z_{\alpha '}$. By the descending chain condition we may find a smallest element of $A$, say $Z$. As $Z$ is not a finite union of irreducible components, it is not irreducible. Hence we can write $Z = Z' \cup Z''$ and both are strictly smaller closed subsets. By construction $Z' = \bigcup Z'_ i$ and $Z'' = \bigcup Z''_ j$ are finite unions of their irreducible components. Hence $Z = \bigcup Z'_ i \cup \bigcup Z''_ j$ is a finite union of irreducible closed subsets. After removing redundant members of this expression, this will be the decomposition of $Z$ into its irreducible components, a contradiction.

Let $Z \subset X$ be an irreducible component of $X$. Let $Z_1, \ldots , Z_ n$ be the other irreducible components of $X$. Consider $U = Z \setminus (Z_1\cup \ldots \cup Z_ n)$. This is not empty since otherwise the irreducible space $Z$ would be contained in one of the other $Z_ i$. Because $X = Z \cup Z_1 \cup \ldots Z_ n$ (see Lemma 5.8.3), also $U = X \setminus (Z_1\cup \ldots \cup Z_ n)$ and hence open in $X$. Thus $Z$ contains a nonempty open of $X$. $\square$

Lemma 5.9.3. Let $f : X \to Y$ be a continuous map of topological spaces.

1. If $X$ is Noetherian, then $f(X)$ is Noetherian.

2. If $X$ is locally Noetherian and $f$ open, then $f(X)$ is locally Noetherian.

Proof. In case (1), suppose that $Z_1 \supset Z_2 \supset Z_3 \supset \ldots$ is a descending chain of closed subsets of $f(X)$ (as usual with the induced topology as a subset of $Y$). Then $f^{-1}(Z_1) \supset f^{-1}(Z_2) \supset f^{-1}(Z_3) \supset \ldots$ is a descending chain of closed subsets of $X$. Hence this chain stabilizes. Since $f(f^{-1}(Z_ i)) = Z_ i$ we conclude that $Z_1 \supset Z_2 \supset Z_3 \supset \ldots$ stabilizes also. In case (2), let $y \in f(X)$. Choose $x \in X$ with $f(x) = y$. By assumption there exists a neighbourhood $E \subset X$ of $x$ which is Noetherian. Then $f(E) \subset f(X)$ is a neighbourhood which is Noetherian by part (1). $\square$

Lemma 5.9.4. Let $X$ be a topological space. Let $X_ i \subset X$, $i = 1, \ldots , n$ be a finite collection of subsets. If each $X_ i$ is Noetherian (with the induced topology), then $\bigcup _{i = 1, \ldots , n} X_ i$ is Noetherian (with the induced topology).

Proof. Omitted. $\square$

Example 5.9.5. Any nonempty, Kolmogorov Noetherian topological space has a closed point (combine Lemmas 5.12.8 and 5.12.13). Let $X = \{ 1, 2, 3, \ldots \}$. Define a topology on $X$ with opens $\emptyset$, $\{ 1, 2, \ldots , n\}$, $n \geq 1$ and $X$. Thus $X$ is a locally Noetherian topological space, without any closed points. This space cannot be the underlying topological space of a locally Noetherian scheme, see Properties, Lemma 27.5.9.

Lemma 5.9.6. Let $X$ be a locally Noetherian topological space. Then $X$ is locally connected.

Proof. Let $x \in X$. Let $E$ be a neighbourhood of $x$. We have to find a connected neighbourhood of $x$ contained in $E$. By assumption there exists a neighbourhood $E'$ of $x$ which is Noetherian. Then $E \cap E'$ is Noetherian, see Lemma 5.9.2. Let $E \cap E' = Y_1 \cup \ldots \cup Y_ n$ be the decomposition into irreducible components, see Lemma 5.9.2. Let $E'' = \bigcup _{x \in Y_ i} Y_ i$. This is a connected subset of $E \cap E'$ containing $x$. It contains the open $E \cap E' \setminus (\bigcup _{x \not\in Y_ i} Y_ i)$ of $E \cap E'$ and hence it is a neighbourhood of $x$ in $X$. This proves the lemma. $\square$

Comment #955 by Antoine Chambert-Loir on

Lemma 5.8.2 should state that every irreducible subset of a noetherian topological space $X$ is contained in an irreducible component, equivalently that $X$ is the union of its irreducible components. This is more or less proved: Define $A$ as the set of closed subspaces of $X$ which are not the union of finitely many irreducible subsets.

Comment #963 by on

By our definition of irreducible components (as maximal irreducible subsets) this is true for every topological space. See Lemma 5.8.3.

Comment #996 by Antoine Chambert-Loir on

Sorry to have overlooked that Lemma 004W. But you will agree that it should state: every irreducible subset of $X$ is contained in an irreducible component''. (With the same proof, starting from the given irreducible subset instead of a singleton.)

Comment #997 by on

Yes, indeed, sorry for misunderstanding your point and thanks for persisting. The corresponding change is here. Thanks!

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