# The Stacks Project

## Tag 01XJ

Lemma 29.4.5. Let $f : X \to S$ be a morphism of schemes. Assume that $f$ is quasi-separated and quasi-compact.

1. For any quasi-coherent $\mathcal{O}_X$-module $\mathcal{F}$ the higher direct images $R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ are quasi-coherent on $S$.
2. If $S$ is quasi-compact, there exists an integer $n = n(X, S, f)$ such that $R^pf_*\mathcal{F} = 0$ for all $p \geq n$ and any quasi-coherent sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ on $X$.
3. In fact, if $S$ is quasi-compact we can find $n = n(X, S, f)$ such that for every morphism of schemes $S' \to S$ we have $R^p(f')_*\mathcal{F}' = 0$ for $p \geq n$ and any quasi-coherent sheaf $\mathcal{F}'$ on $X'$. Here $f' : X' = S' \times_S X \to S'$ is the base change of $f$.

Proof. We first prove (1). Note that under the hypotheses of the lemma the sheaf $R^0f_*\mathcal{F} = f_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent by Schemes, Lemma 25.24.1. Using Cohomology, Lemma 20.8.4 we see that forming higher direct images commutes with restriction to open subschemes. Since being quasi-coherent is local on $S$ we may assume $S$ is affine.

Assume $S$ is affine and $f$ quasi-compact and separated. Let $t \geq 1$ be the minimal number of affine opens needed to cover $X$. We will prove this case of (1) by induction on $t$. If $t = 1$ then the morphism $f$ is affine by Morphisms, Lemma 28.11.12 and (1) follows from Lemma 29.2.3. If $t > 1$ write $X = U \cup V$ with $V$ affine open and $U = U_1 \cup \ldots \cup U_{t - 1}$ a union of $t - 1$ open affines. Note that in this case $U \cap V = (U_1 \cap V) \cup \ldots (U_{t - 1} \cap V)$ is also a union of $t - 1$ affine open subschemes, see Schemes, Lemma 25.21.8. We will apply the relative Mayer-Vietoris sequence $$0 \to f_*\mathcal{F} \to a_*(\mathcal{F}|_U) \oplus b_*(\mathcal{F}|_V) \to c_*(\mathcal{F}|_{U \cap V}) \to R^1f_*\mathcal{F} \to \ldots$$ see Cohomology, Lemma 20.9.3. By induction we see that $R^pa_*\mathcal{F}$, $R^pb_*\mathcal{F}$ and $R^pc_*\mathcal{F}$ are all quasi-coherent. This implies that each of the sheaves $R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent since it sits in the middle of a short exact sequence with a cokernel of a map between quasi-coherent sheaves on the left and a kernel of a map between quasi-coherent sheaves on the right. Using the results on quasi-coherent sheaves in Schemes, Section 25.24 we see conclude $R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent.

Assume $S$ is affine and $f$ quasi-compact and quasi-separated. Let $t \geq 1$ be the minimal number of affine opens needed to cover $X$. We will prove (1) by induction on $t$. In case $t = 1$ the morphism $f$ is separated and we are back in the previous case (see previous paragraph). If $t > 1$ write $X = U \cup V$ with $V$ affine open and $U$ a union of $t - 1$ open affines. Note that in this case $U \cap V$ is an open subscheme of an affine scheme and hence separated (see Schemes, Lemma 25.21.6). We will apply the relative Mayer-Vietoris sequence $$0 \to f_*\mathcal{F} \to a_*(\mathcal{F}|_U) \oplus b_*(\mathcal{F}|_V) \to c_*(\mathcal{F}|_{U \cap V}) \to R^1f_*\mathcal{F} \to \ldots$$ see Cohomology, Lemma 20.9.3. By induction and the result of the previous paragraph we see that $R^pa_*\mathcal{F}$, $R^pb_*\mathcal{F}$ and $R^pc_*\mathcal{F}$ are quasi-coherent. As in the previous paragraph this implies each of sheaves $R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent.

Next, we prove (3) and a fortiori (2). Choose a finite affine open covering $S = \bigcup_{j = 1, \ldots m} S_j$. For each $i$ choose a finite affine open covering $f^{-1}(S_j) = \bigcup_{i = 1, \ldots t_j} U_{ji}$. Let $$d_j = \max\nolimits_{I \subset \{1, \ldots, t_j\}} \left(|I| + t(\bigcap\nolimits_{i \in I} U_{ji})\right)$$ be the integer found in Lemma 29.4.4. We claim that $n(X, S, f) = \max d_j$ works.

Namely, let $S' \to S$ be a morphism of schemes and let $\mathcal{F}'$ be a quasi-coherent sheaf on $X' = S' \times_S X$. We want to show that $R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}' = 0$ for $p \geq n(X, S, f)$. Since this question is local on $S'$ we may assume that $S'$ is affine and maps into $S_j$ for some $j$. Then $X' = S' \times_{S_j} f^{-1}(S_j)$ is covered by the open affines $S' \times_{S_j} U_{ji}$, $i = 1, \ldots t_j$ and the intersections $$\bigcap\nolimits_{i \in I} S' \times_{S_j} U_{ji} = S' \times_{S_j} \bigcap\nolimits_{i \in I} U_{ji}$$ are covered by the same number of affines as before the base change. Applying Lemma 29.4.4 we get $H^p(X', \mathcal{F}') = 0$. By the first part of the proof we already know that each $R^qf'_*\mathcal{F}'$ is quasi-coherent hence has vanishing higher cohomology groups on our affine scheme $S'$, thus we see that $H^0(S', R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}') = H^p(X', \mathcal{F}') = 0$ by Cohomology, Lemma 20.14.6. Since $R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}'$ is quasi-coherent we conclude that $R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}' = 0$. $\square$

The code snippet corresponding to this tag is a part of the file coherent.tex and is located in lines 679–695 (see updates for more information).

\begin{lemma}
\label{lemma-quasi-coherence-higher-direct-images}
Let $f : X \to S$ be a morphism of schemes.
Assume that $f$ is quasi-separated and quasi-compact.
\begin{enumerate}
\item For any quasi-coherent $\mathcal{O}_X$-module $\mathcal{F}$ the
higher direct images $R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ are quasi-coherent on $S$.
\item If $S$ is quasi-compact, there exists an integer $n = n(X, S, f)$
such that $R^pf_*\mathcal{F} = 0$ for all $p \geq n$ and any
quasi-coherent sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ on $X$.
\item In fact, if $S$ is quasi-compact we can find $n = n(X, S, f)$
such that for every
morphism of schemes $S' \to S$ we have $R^p(f')_*\mathcal{F}' = 0$
for $p \geq n$ and any quasi-coherent sheaf $\mathcal{F}'$
on $X'$. Here $f' : X' = S' \times_S X \to S'$ is the base change of $f$.
\end{enumerate}
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
We first prove (1). Note that under the hypotheses of the lemma the sheaf
$R^0f_*\mathcal{F} = f_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent by
Schemes, Lemma \ref{schemes-lemma-push-forward-quasi-coherent}.
Using
Cohomology, Lemma \ref{cohomology-lemma-localize-higher-direct-images}
we see that forming higher direct images commutes with restriction
to open subschemes. Since being quasi-coherent is local on $S$ we
may assume $S$ is affine.

\medskip\noindent
Assume $S$ is affine and $f$ quasi-compact and separated.
Let $t \geq 1$ be the minimal number of affine opens needed to cover $X$.
We will prove this case of (1) by induction on $t$.
If $t = 1$ then the morphism $f$ is affine by
Morphisms, Lemma \ref{morphisms-lemma-morphism-affines-affine}
and (1) follows from
Lemma \ref{lemma-relative-affine-vanishing}.
If $t > 1$ write $X = U \cup V$ with $V$ affine open and
$U = U_1 \cup \ldots \cup U_{t - 1}$ a union of $t - 1$ open affines.
Note that in this case
$U \cap V = (U_1 \cap V) \cup \ldots (U_{t - 1} \cap V)$
is also a union of $t - 1$ affine open subschemes, see
Schemes, Lemma \ref{schemes-lemma-characterize-separated}.
We will apply the relative Mayer-Vietoris sequence
$$0 \to f_*\mathcal{F} \to a_*(\mathcal{F}|_U) \oplus b_*(\mathcal{F}|_V) \to c_*(\mathcal{F}|_{U \cap V}) \to R^1f_*\mathcal{F} \to \ldots$$
see Cohomology, Lemma \ref{cohomology-lemma-relative-mayer-vietoris}.
By induction we see that
$R^pa_*\mathcal{F}$, $R^pb_*\mathcal{F}$ and $R^pc_*\mathcal{F}$
are all quasi-coherent. This implies that each of the sheaves
$R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent since it sits in the middle of a short
exact sequence with a cokernel of a map between quasi-coherent sheaves
on the left and a kernel of a map between quasi-coherent sheaves on the right.
Using the results on quasi-coherent sheaves in
Schemes, Section \ref{schemes-section-quasi-coherent} we see
conclude $R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent.

\medskip\noindent
Assume $S$ is affine and $f$ quasi-compact and quasi-separated.
Let $t \geq 1$ be the minimal number of affine opens needed to cover $X$.
We will prove (1) by induction on $t$.
In case $t = 1$ the morphism $f$ is separated and we are back
in the previous case (see previous paragraph).
If $t > 1$ write $X = U \cup V$ with $V$ affine open and
$U$ a union of $t - 1$ open affines.
Note that in this case $U \cap V$ is an open subscheme of an affine
scheme and hence separated (see
Schemes, Lemma \ref{schemes-lemma-affine-separated}).
We will apply the relative Mayer-Vietoris sequence
$$0 \to f_*\mathcal{F} \to a_*(\mathcal{F}|_U) \oplus b_*(\mathcal{F}|_V) \to c_*(\mathcal{F}|_{U \cap V}) \to R^1f_*\mathcal{F} \to \ldots$$
see Cohomology, Lemma \ref{cohomology-lemma-relative-mayer-vietoris}.
By induction and the result of the previous paragraph we see that
$R^pa_*\mathcal{F}$, $R^pb_*\mathcal{F}$ and $R^pc_*\mathcal{F}$
are quasi-coherent. As in the previous paragraph this implies each of
sheaves $R^pf_*\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent.

\medskip\noindent
Next, we prove (3) and a fortiori (2). Choose a finite affine open
covering $S = \bigcup_{j = 1, \ldots m} S_j$. For each $i$ choose
a finite affine open covering
$f^{-1}(S_j) = \bigcup_{i = 1, \ldots t_j} U_{ji}$.
Let
$$d_j = \max\nolimits_{I \subset \{1, \ldots, t_j\}} \left(|I| + t(\bigcap\nolimits_{i \in I} U_{ji})\right)$$
be the integer found in
Lemma \ref{lemma-vanishing-nr-affines-quasi-separated}.
We claim that $n(X, S, f) = \max d_j$ works.

\medskip\noindent
Namely, let $S' \to S$ be a morphism of schemes and let
$\mathcal{F}'$ be a quasi-coherent sheaf on $X' = S' \times_S X$.
We want to show that $R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}' = 0$ for $p \geq n(X, S, f)$.
Since this question is local on $S'$ we may assume that $S'$ is affine
and maps into $S_j$ for some $j$. Then $X' = S' \times_{S_j} f^{-1}(S_j)$
is covered by the open affines $S' \times_{S_j} U_{ji}$, $i = 1, \ldots t_j$
and the intersections
$$\bigcap\nolimits_{i \in I} S' \times_{S_j} U_{ji} = S' \times_{S_j} \bigcap\nolimits_{i \in I} U_{ji}$$
are covered by the same number of affines as before the base change.
Applying
Lemma \ref{lemma-vanishing-nr-affines-quasi-separated}
we get $H^p(X', \mathcal{F}') = 0$. By the first part of the proof
we already know that each $R^qf'_*\mathcal{F}'$ is quasi-coherent
hence has vanishing higher cohomology groups on our affine scheme $S'$,
thus we see that $H^0(S', R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}') = H^p(X', \mathcal{F}') = 0$
by Cohomology, Lemma \ref{cohomology-lemma-apply-Leray}.
Since $R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}'$ is quasi-coherent
we conclude that $R^pf'_*\mathcal{F}' = 0$.
\end{proof}

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