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The Stacks project

13.18 Injective resolutions

In this section we prove some lemmas regarding the existence of injective resolutions in abelian categories having enough injectives.

Definition 13.18.1. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Let A \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{A}). An injective resolution of A is a complex I^\bullet together with a map A \to I^0 such that:

  1. We have I^ n = 0 for n < 0.

  2. Each I^ n is an injective object of \mathcal{A}.

  3. The map A \to I^0 is an isomorphism onto \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(d^0).

  4. We have H^ i(I^\bullet ) = 0 for i > 0.

Hence A[0] \to I^\bullet is a quasi-isomorphism. In other words the complex

\ldots \to 0 \to A \to I^0 \to I^1 \to \ldots

is acyclic. Let K^\bullet be a complex in \mathcal{A}. An injective resolution of K^\bullet is a complex I^\bullet together with a map \alpha : K^\bullet \to I^\bullet of complexes such that

  1. We have I^ n = 0 for n \ll 0, i.e., I^\bullet is bounded below.

  2. Each I^ n is an injective object of \mathcal{A}.

  3. The map \alpha : K^\bullet \to I^\bullet is a quasi-isomorphism.

In other words an injective resolution K^\bullet \to I^\bullet gives rise to a diagram

\xymatrix{ \ldots \ar[r] & K^{n - 1} \ar[d] \ar[r] & K^ n \ar[d] \ar[r] & K^{n + 1} \ar[d] \ar[r] & \ldots \\ \ldots \ar[r] & I^{n - 1} \ar[r] & I^ n \ar[r] & I^{n + 1} \ar[r] & \ldots }

which induces an isomorphism on cohomology objects in each degree. An injective resolution of an object A of \mathcal{A} is almost the same thing as an injective resolution of the complex A[0].

Lemma 13.18.2. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Let K^\bullet be a complex of \mathcal{A}.

  1. If K^\bullet has an injective resolution then H^ n(K^\bullet ) = 0 for n \ll 0.

  2. If H^ n(K^\bullet ) = 0 for all n \ll 0 then there exists a quasi-isomorphism K^\bullet \to L^\bullet with L^\bullet bounded below.

Proof. Omitted. For the second statement use L^\bullet = \tau _{\geq n}K^\bullet for some n \ll 0. See Homology, Section 12.15 for the definition of the truncation \tau _{\geq n}. \square

Lemma 13.18.3. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Assume \mathcal{A} has enough injectives.

  1. Any object of \mathcal{A} has an injective resolution.

  2. If H^ n(K^\bullet ) = 0 for all n \ll 0 then K^\bullet has an injective resolution.

  3. If K^\bullet is a complex with K^ n = 0 for n < a, then there exists an injective resolution \alpha : K^\bullet \to I^\bullet with I^ n = 0 for n < a such that each \alpha ^ n : K^ n \to I^ n is injective.

Proof. Proof of (1). First choose an injection A \to I^0 of A into an injective object of \mathcal{A}. Next, choose an injection I_0/A \to I^1 into an injective object of \mathcal{A}. Denote d^0 the induced map I^0 \to I^1. Next, choose an injection I^1/\mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(d^0) \to I^2 into an injective object of \mathcal{A}. Denote d^1 the induced map I^1 \to I^2. And so on. By Lemma 13.18.2 part (2) follows from part (3). Part (3) is a special case of Lemma 13.15.5. \square

Lemma 13.18.4. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Let K^\bullet be an acyclic complex. Let I^\bullet be bounded below and consisting of injective objects. Any morphism K^\bullet \to I^\bullet is homotopic to zero.

Proof. Let \alpha : K^\bullet \to I^\bullet be a morphism of complexes. Note that \alpha ^ j = 0 for j \ll 0 as I^\bullet is bounded below. In particular, we can find an n such that there exist h^ j : K^ j \to I^{j - 1} for j \leq n such that \alpha ^ j = d^{j - 1} \circ h^ j + h^{j + 1} \circ d^ j for j < n. We will show that there exists a morphism h^{n + 1} : K^{n + 1} \to I^ n such that \alpha ^ n = d^{n - 1} \circ h^ n + h^{n + 1} \circ d^ n. Note that

\begin{align*} (\alpha ^ n - d^{n - 1} \circ h^{n - 1}) \circ d^{n - 1} & = \alpha ^{n - 1} \circ d^{n - 1} - d^{n - 1} \circ h^{n - 1} \circ d^{n - 1} \\ & = d^{n - 1} \circ \alpha ^{n - 1} - d^{n - 1} \circ h^{n - 1} \circ d^{n - 1} \\ & = d^{n - 1} \circ (d^{n - 2} \circ h^{n - 1} + h^ n \circ d^{n - 1}) - d^{n - 1} \circ h^{n - 1} \circ d^{n - 1} \\ & = 0 \end{align*}

Since K^\bullet is acyclic we have d^{n - 1}(K^{n - 1}) = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(K^ n \to K^{n + 1}). Hence we can think of \alpha ^ n - d^{n - 1} \circ h^{n - 1} as a map into I^ n defined on the subobject \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(K^ n \to K^{n + 1}) of K^{n + 1}. By injectivity of the object I^ n we can extend this to a map h^{n + 1} : K^{n + 1} \to I^ n. With this choice the reader checks that we indeed have \alpha ^ n = d^{n - 1} \circ h^ n + h^{n + 1} \circ d^ n.

By induction on n we conclude we can find h = (h^ j)_{j \in \mathbf{Z}} which forms a homotopy between \alpha and 0 as desired. \square

Remark 13.18.5. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Using the fact that K(\mathcal{A}) is a triangulated category we may use Lemma 13.18.4 to obtain proofs of some of the lemmas below which are usually proved by chasing through diagrams. Namely, suppose that \alpha : K^\bullet \to L^\bullet is a quasi-isomorphism of complexes. Then

(K^\bullet , L^\bullet , C(\alpha )^\bullet , \alpha , i, -p)

is a distinguished triangle in K(\mathcal{A}) (Lemma 13.9.14) and C(\alpha )^\bullet is an acyclic complex (Lemma 13.11.2). Next, let I^\bullet be a bounded below complex of injective objects. Then

\xymatrix{ \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{K(\mathcal{A})}(C(\alpha )^\bullet , I^\bullet ) \ar[r] & \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{K(\mathcal{A})}(L^\bullet , I^\bullet ) \ar[r] & \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{K(\mathcal{A})}(K^\bullet , I^\bullet ) \ar[lld] \\ \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{K(\mathcal{A})}(C(\alpha )^\bullet [-1], I^\bullet ) }

is an exact sequence of abelian groups, see Lemma 13.4.2. At this point Lemma 13.18.4 guarantees that the outer two groups are zero and hence \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{K(\mathcal{A})}(L^\bullet , I^\bullet ) = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{K(\mathcal{A})}(K^\bullet , I^\bullet ).

Lemma 13.18.6. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Consider a solid diagram

\xymatrix{ K^\bullet \ar[r]_\alpha \ar[d]_\gamma & L^\bullet \ar@{-->}[dl]^\beta \\ I^\bullet }

where I^\bullet is bounded below and consists of injective objects, and \alpha is a quasi-isomorphism.

  1. There exists a map of complexes \beta making the diagram commute up to homotopy.

  2. If \alpha is injective in every degree then we can find a \beta which makes the diagram commute.

Proof. The “correct” proof of part (1) is explained in Remark 13.18.5. We also give a direct proof here.

We first show that (2) implies (1). Namely, let \tilde\alpha : K \to \tilde L^\bullet , \pi , s be as in Lemma 13.9.6. Since \tilde\alpha is injective by (2) there exists a morphism \tilde\beta : \tilde L^\bullet \to I^\bullet such that \gamma = \tilde\beta \circ \tilde\alpha . Set \beta = \tilde\beta \circ s. Then we have

\beta \circ \alpha = \tilde\beta \circ s \circ \pi \circ \tilde\alpha \sim \tilde\beta \circ \tilde\alpha = \gamma

as desired.

Assume that \alpha : K^\bullet \to L^\bullet is injective. Suppose we have already defined \beta in all degrees \leq n - 1 compatible with differentials and such that \gamma ^ j = \beta ^ j \circ \alpha ^ j for all j \leq n - 1. Consider the commutative solid diagram

\xymatrix{ K^{n - 1} \ar[r] \ar@/_2pc/[dd]_\gamma \ar[d]^\alpha & K^ n \ar@/^2pc/[dd]^\gamma \ar[d]^\alpha \\ L^{n - 1} \ar[r] \ar[d]^\beta & L^ n \ar@{-->}[d] \\ I^{n - 1} \ar[r] & I^ n }

Thus we see that the dotted arrow is prescribed on the subobjects \alpha (K^ n) and d^{n - 1}(L^{n - 1}). Moreover, these two arrows agree on \alpha (d^{n - 1}(K^{n - 1})). Hence if

13.18.6.1
\begin{equation} \label{derived-equation-qis} \alpha (d^{n - 1}(K^{n - 1})) = \alpha (K^ n) \cap d^{n - 1}(L^{n - 1}) \end{equation}

then these morphisms glue to a morphism \alpha (K^ n) + d^{n - 1}(L^{n - 1}) \to I^ n and, using the injectivity of I^ n, we can extend this to a morphism from all of L^ n into I^ n. After this by induction we get the morphism \beta for all n simultaneously (note that we can set \beta ^ n = 0 for all n \ll 0 since I^\bullet is bounded below – in this way starting the induction).

It remains to prove the equality (13.18.6.1). The reader is encouraged to argue this for themselves with a suitable diagram chase. Nonetheless here is our argument. Note that the inclusion \alpha (d^{n - 1}(K^{n - 1})) \subset \alpha (K^ n) \cap d^{n - 1}(L^{n - 1}) is obvious. Take an object T of \mathcal{A} and a morphism x : T \to L^ n whose image is contained in the subobject \alpha (K^ n) \cap d^{n - 1}(L^{n - 1}). Since \alpha is injective we see that x = \alpha \circ x' for some x' : T \to K^ n. Moreover, since x lies in d^{n - 1}(L^{n - 1}) we see that d^ n \circ x = 0. Hence using injectivity of \alpha again we see that d^ n \circ x' = 0. Thus x' gives a morphism [x'] : T \to H^ n(K^\bullet ). On the other hand the corresponding map [x] : T \to H^ n(L^\bullet ) induced by x is zero by assumption. Since \alpha is a quasi-isomorphism we conclude that [x'] = 0. This of course means exactly that the image of x' is contained in d^{n - 1}(K^{n - 1}) and we win. \square

Lemma 13.18.7. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Consider a solid diagram

\xymatrix{ K^\bullet \ar[r]_\alpha \ar[d]_\gamma & L^\bullet \ar@{-->}[dl]^{\beta _ i} \\ I^\bullet }

where I^\bullet is bounded below and consists of injective objects, and \alpha is a quasi-isomorphism. Any two morphisms \beta _1, \beta _2 making the diagram commute up to homotopy are homotopic.

Proof. This follows from Remark 13.18.5. We also give a direct argument here.

Let \tilde\alpha : K \to \tilde L^\bullet , \pi , s be as in Lemma 13.9.6. If we can show that \beta _1 \circ \pi is homotopic to \beta _2 \circ \pi , then we deduce that \beta _1 \sim \beta _2 because \pi \circ s is the identity. Hence we may assume \alpha ^ n : K^ n \to L^ n is the inclusion of a direct summand for all n. Thus we get a short exact sequence of complexes

0 \to K^\bullet \to L^\bullet \to M^\bullet \to 0

which is termwise split and such that M^\bullet is acyclic. We choose splittings L^ n = K^ n \oplus M^ n, so we have \beta _ i^ n : K^ n \oplus M^ n \to I^ n and \gamma ^ n : K^ n \to I^ n. In this case the condition on \beta _ i is that there are morphisms h_ i^ n : K^ n \to I^{n - 1} such that

\gamma ^ n - \beta _ i^ n|_{K^ n} = d \circ h_ i^ n + h_ i^{n + 1} \circ d

Thus we see that

\beta _1^ n|_{K^ n} - \beta _2^ n|_{K^ n} = d \circ (h_1^ n - h_2^ n) + (h_1^{n + 1} - h_2^{n + 1}) \circ d

Consider the map h^ n : K^ n \oplus M^ n \to I^{n - 1} which equals h_1^ n - h_2^ n on the first summand and zero on the second. Then we see that

\beta _1^ n - \beta _2^ n - (d \circ h^ n + h^{n + 1}) \circ d

is a morphism of complexes L^\bullet \to I^\bullet which is identically zero on the subcomplex K^\bullet . Hence it factors as L^\bullet \to M^\bullet \to I^\bullet . Thus the result of the lemma follows from Lemma 13.18.4. \square

Lemma 13.18.8. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Let I^\bullet be bounded below complex consisting of injective objects. Let L^\bullet \in K(\mathcal{A}). Then

\mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{K(\mathcal{A})}(L^\bullet , I^\bullet ) = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{D(\mathcal{A})}(L^\bullet , I^\bullet ).

Proof. Let a be an element of the right hand side. We may represent a = \gamma \alpha ^{-1} where \alpha : K^\bullet \to L^\bullet is a quasi-isomorphism and \gamma : K^\bullet \to I^\bullet is a map of complexes. By Lemma 13.18.6 we can find a morphism \beta : L^\bullet \to I^\bullet such that \beta \circ \alpha is homotopic to \gamma . This proves that the map is surjective. Let b be an element of the left hand side which maps to zero in the right hand side. Then b is the homotopy class of a morphism \beta : L^\bullet \to I^\bullet such that there exists a quasi-isomorphism \alpha : K^\bullet \to L^\bullet with \beta \circ \alpha homotopic to zero. Then Lemma 13.18.7 shows that \beta is homotopic to zero also, i.e., b = 0. \square

Lemma 13.18.9. Let \mathcal{A} be an abelian category. Assume \mathcal{A} has enough injectives. For any short exact sequence 0 \to A^\bullet \to B^\bullet \to C^\bullet \to 0 of \text{Comp}^{+}(\mathcal{A}) there exists a commutative diagram in \text{Comp}^{+}(\mathcal{A})

\xymatrix{ 0 \ar[r] & A^\bullet \ar[r] \ar[d] & B^\bullet \ar[r] \ar[d] & C^\bullet \ar[r] \ar[d] & 0 \\ 0 \ar[r] & I_1^\bullet \ar[r] & I_2^\bullet \ar[r] & I_3^\bullet \ar[r] & 0 }

where the vertical arrows are injective resolutions and the rows are short exact sequences of complexes. In fact, given any injective resolution A^\bullet \to I^\bullet we may assume I_1^\bullet = I^\bullet .

Proof. Step 1. Choose an injective resolution A^\bullet \to I^\bullet (see Lemma 13.18.3) or use the given one. Recall that \text{Comp}^{+}(\mathcal{A}) is an abelian category, see Homology, Lemma 12.13.9. Hence we may form the pushout along the map A^\bullet \to I^\bullet to get

\xymatrix{ 0 \ar[r] & A^\bullet \ar[r] \ar[d] & B^\bullet \ar[r] \ar[d] & C^\bullet \ar[r] \ar[d] & 0 \\ 0 \ar[r] & I^\bullet \ar[r] & E^\bullet \ar[r] & C^\bullet \ar[r] & 0 }

Because of the 5-lemma and the last assertion of Homology, Lemma 12.13.12 the map B^\bullet \to E^\bullet is a quasi-isomorphism. Note that the lower short exact sequence is termwise split, see Homology, Lemma 12.27.2. Hence it suffices to prove the lemma when 0 \to A^\bullet \to B^\bullet \to C^\bullet \to 0 is termwise split.

Step 2. Choose splittings. In other words, write B^ n = A^ n \oplus C^ n. Denote \delta : C^\bullet \to A^\bullet [1] the morphism as in Homology, Lemma 12.14.10. Choose injective resolutions f_1 : A^\bullet \to I_1^\bullet and f_3 : C^\bullet \to I_3^\bullet . (If A^\bullet is a complex of injectives, then use I_1^\bullet = A^\bullet .) We may assume f_3 is injective in every degree. By Lemma 13.18.6 we may find a morphism \delta ' : I_3^\bullet \to I_1^\bullet [1] such that \delta ' \circ f_3 = f_1[1] \circ \delta (equality of morphisms of complexes). Set I_2^ n = I_1^ n \oplus I_3^ n. Define

d_{I_2}^ n = \left( \begin{matrix} d_{I_1}^ n & (\delta ')^ n \\ 0 & d_{I_3}^ n \end{matrix} \right)

and define the maps B^ n \to I_2^ n to be given as the sum of the maps A^ n \to I_1^ n and C^ n \to I_3^ n. Everything is clear. \square


Comments (3)

Comment #8418 by on

To justify the short exactness of , maybe one could link to Homology, Section 12.6 (specifically, to what I comment in https://stacks.math.columbia.edu/tag/010I#comment-8412 )

Comment #9042 by on

Since I think it is reasonable to assume that the person who reads this knows how to take pushouts of short exact sequences in abelian categories, I am going to leave this as is.


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