## 109.50 Differentials

Definitions and results. Kähler differentials.

1. Let $R \to A$ be a ring map. The module of Kähler differentials of $A$ over $R$ is denoted $\Omega _{A/R}$. It is generated by the elements $\text{d}a$, $a \in A$ subject to the relations:

$\text{d}(a_1 + a_2) = \text{d}a_1 + \text{d}a_2,\quad \text{d}(a_1a_2) = a_1\text{d}a_2 + a_2\text{d}a_1,\quad \text{d}r = 0$

The canonical universal $R$-derivation $\text{d} : A \to \Omega _{A/R}$ maps $a\mapsto \text{d}a$.

2. Consider the short exact sequence

$0 \to I \to A \otimes _ R A \to A \to 0$

which defines the ideal $I$. There is a canonical derivation $\text{d} : A \to I/I^2$ which maps $a$ to the class of $a \otimes 1 - 1 \otimes a$. This is another presentation of the module of derivations of $A$ over $R$, in other words

$(I/I^2, \text{d}) \cong (\Omega _{A/R}, \text{d}).$
3. For multiplicative subsets $S_ R \subset R$ and $S_ A \subset A$ such that $S_ R$ maps into $S_ A$ we have

$\Omega _{S_ A^{-1}A / S_ R^{-1}R} = S_ A^{-1}\Omega _{A/R}.$
4. If $A$ is a finitely presented $R$-algebra then $\Omega _{A/R}$ is a finitely presented $A$-module. Hence in this case the fitting ideals of $\Omega _{A/R}$ are defined.

5. Let $f : X \to S$ be a morphism of schemes. There is a quasi-coherent sheaf of ${\mathcal O}_ X$-modules $\Omega _{X/S}$ and a ${\mathcal O}_ S$-linear derivation

$\text{d} : {\mathcal O}_ X \longrightarrow \Omega _{X/S}$

such that for any affine opens $\mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(A) = U \subset X$, $\mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(R) = V \subset S$ with $f(U) \subset V$ we have

$\Gamma (\mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(A), \Omega _{X/S}) = \Omega _{A/R}$

compatibly with $\text{d}$.

Exercise 109.50.1. Let $k[\epsilon ]$ be the ring of dual numbers over the field $k$, i.e., $\epsilon ^2 = 0$.

1. Consider the ring map

$R = k[\epsilon ] \to A = k[x, \epsilon ]/(\epsilon x)$

Show that the Fitting ideals of $\Omega _{A/R}$ are (starting with the zeroth Fitting ideal)

$(\epsilon ), A, A, \ldots$
2. Consider the map $R = k[t] \to A = k[x, y, t]/(x(y-t)(y-1), x(x-t))$. Show that the Fitting ideals of $\Omega _{A/R}$ in $A$ are (assume characteristic $k$ is zero for simplicity)

$x(2x-t)(2y-t-1)A, \ (x, y, t)\cap (x, y-1, t), \ A, \ A, \ldots$

So the $0$-the Fitting ideal is cut out by a single element of $A$, the $1$st Fitting ideal defines two closed points of $\mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(A)$, and the others are all trivial.

3. Consider the map $R = k[t] \to A = k[x, y, t]/(xy-t^ n)$. Compute the Fitting ideals of $\Omega _{A/R}$.

Remark 109.50.2. The $k$th Fitting ideal of $\Omega _{X/S}$ is commonly used to define the singular scheme of the morphism $X \to S$ when $X$ has relative dimension $k$ over $S$. But as part (a) shows, you have to be careful doing this when your family does not have “constant” fibre dimension, e.g., when it is not flat. As part (b) shows, flatness doesn't guarantee it works either (and yes this is a flat family). In “good cases” – such as in (c) – for families of curves you expect the $0$-th Fitting ideal to be zero and the $1$st Fitting ideal to define (scheme-theoretically) the singular locus.

Exercise 109.50.3. Suppose that $R$ is a ring and

$A = R[x_1, \ldots , x_ n]/(f_1, \ldots , f_ n).$

Note that we are assuming that $A$ is presented by the same number of equations as variables. Thus the matrix of partial derivatives

$( \partial f_ i / \partial x_ j )$

is $n \times n$, i.e., a square matrix. Assume that its determinant is invertible as an element in $A$. Note that this is exactly the condition that says that $\Omega _{A/R} = (0)$ in this case of $n$-generators and $n$ relations. Let $\pi : B' \to B$ be a surjection of $R$-algebras whose kernel $J$ has square zero (as an ideal in $B'$). Let $\varphi : A \to B$ be a homomorphism of $R$-algebras. Show there exists a unique homomorphism of $R$-algebras $\varphi ' : A \to B'$ such that $\varphi = \pi \circ \varphi '$.

Exercise 109.50.5. Let $k$ be a field, let $f_1, \ldots , f_ c \in k[x_1, \ldots , x_ n]$, and let $A = k[x_1, \ldots , x_ n]/(f_1, \ldots , f_ c)$. Assume that $f_ j(0, \ldots , 0) = 0$. This means that $\mathfrak m = (x_1, \ldots , x_ n)A$ is a maximal ideal. Prove that the local ring $A_\mathfrak m$ is regular if the rank of the matrix

$(\partial f_ j/ \partial x_ i)|_{(x_1, \ldots , x_ n) = (0, \ldots , 0)}$

is $c$. What is the dimension of $A_\mathfrak m$ in this case? Show that the converse is false by giving an example where $A_\mathfrak m$ is regular but the rank is less than $c$; what is the dimension of $A_\mathfrak m$ in your example?

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