The Stacks project

33.10 Geometrically normal schemes

In Properties, Definition 28.7.1 we have defined the notion of a normal scheme. This notion is defined even for non-Noetherian schemes. Hence, contrary to our discussion of “geometrically regular” schemes we consider all field extensions of the ground field.

Definition 33.10.1. Let $X$ be a scheme over the field $k$.

  1. Let $x \in X$. We say $X$ is geometrically normal at $x$ if for every field extension $k'/k$ and every $x' \in X_{k'}$ lying over $x$ the local ring $\mathcal{O}_{X_{k'}, x'}$ is normal.

  2. We say $X$ is geometrically normal over $k$ if $X$ is geometrically normal at every $x \in X$.

Lemma 33.10.2. Let $k$ be a field. Let $X$ be a scheme over $k$. Let $x \in X$. The following are equivalent

  1. $X$ is geometrically normal at $x$,

  2. for every finite purely inseparable field extension $k'$ of $k$ and $x' \in X_{k'}$ lying over $x$ the local ring $\mathcal{O}_{X_{k'}, x'}$ is normal, and

  3. the ring $\mathcal{O}_{X, x}$ is geometrically normal over $k$ (see Algebra, Definition 10.165.2).

Proof. It is clear that (1) implies (2). Assume (2). Let $k'/k$ be a finite purely inseparable field extension (for example $k = k'$). Consider the ring $\mathcal{O}_{X, x} \otimes _ k k'$. By Algebra, Lemma 10.46.7 its spectrum is the same as the spectrum of $\mathcal{O}_{X, x}$. Hence it is a local ring also (Algebra, Lemma 10.18.2). Therefore there is a unique point $x' \in X_{k'}$ lying over $x$ and $\mathcal{O}_{X_{k'}, x'} \cong \mathcal{O}_{X, x} \otimes _ k k'$. By assumption this is a normal ring. Hence we deduce (3) by Algebra, Lemma 10.165.1.

Assume (3). Let $k'/k$ be a field extension. Since $\mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(k') \to \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(k)$ is surjective, also $X_{k'} \to X$ is surjective (Morphisms, Lemma 29.9.4). Let $x' \in X_{k'}$ be any point lying over $x$. The local ring $\mathcal{O}_{X_{k'}, x'}$ is a localization of the ring $\mathcal{O}_{X, x} \otimes _ k k'$. Hence it is normal by assumption and (1) is proved. $\square$

Lemma 33.10.3. Let $k$ be a field. Let $X$ be a scheme over $k$. The following are equivalent

  1. $X$ is geometrically normal,

  2. $X_{k'}$ is a normal scheme for every field extension $k'/k$,

  3. $X_{k'}$ is a normal scheme for every finitely generated field extension $k'/k$,

  4. $X_{k'}$ is a normal scheme for every finite purely inseparable field extension $k'/k$,

  5. for every affine open $U \subset X$ the ring $\mathcal{O}_ X(U)$ is geometrically normal (see Algebra, Definition 10.165.2), and

  6. $X_{k^{perf}}$ is a normal scheme.

Proof. Assume (1). Then for every field extension $k'/k$ and every point $x' \in X_{k'}$ the local ring of $X_{k'}$ at $x'$ is normal. By definition this means that $X_{k'}$ is normal. Hence (2).

It is clear that (2) implies (3) implies (4).

Assume (4) and let $U \subset X$ be an affine open subscheme. Then $U_{k'}$ is a normal scheme for any finite purely inseparable extension $k'/k$ (including $k = k'$). This means that $k' \otimes _ k \mathcal{O}(U)$ is a normal ring for all finite purely inseparable extensions $k'/k$. Hence $\mathcal{O}(U)$ is a geometrically normal $k$-algebra by definition. Hence (4) implies (5).

Assume (5). For any field extension $k'/k$ the base change $X_{k'}$ is gotten by gluing the spectra of the rings $\mathcal{O}_ X(U) \otimes _ k k'$ where $U$ is affine open in $X$ (see Schemes, Section 26.17). Hence $X_{k'}$ is normal. So (1) holds.

The equivalence of (5) and (6) follows from the definition of geometrically normal algebras and the equivalence (just proved) of (3) and (4). $\square$

Lemma 33.10.4. Let $k$ be a field. Let $X$ be a scheme over $k$. Let $k'/k$ be a field extension. Let $x \in X$ be a point, and let $x' \in X_{k'}$ be a point lying over $x$. The following are equivalent

  1. $X$ is geometrically normal at $x$,

  2. $X_{k'}$ is geometrically normal at $x'$.

In particular, $X$ is geometrically normal over $k$ if and only if $X_{k'}$ is geometrically normal over $k'$.

Proof. It is clear that (1) implies (2). Assume (2). Let $k''/k$ be a finite purely inseparable field extension and let $x'' \in X_{k''}$ be a point lying over $x$ (actually it is unique). We can find a common field extension $k'''/k$ (i.e. with both $k' \subset k'''$ and $k'' \subset k'''$) and a point $x''' \in X_{k'''}$ lying over both $x'$ and $x''$. Consider the map of local rings

\[ \mathcal{O}_{X_{k''}, x''} \longrightarrow \mathcal{O}_{X_{k'''}, x''''}. \]

This is a flat local ring homomorphism and hence faithfully flat. By (2) we see that the local ring on the right is normal. Thus by Algebra, Lemma 10.164.3 we conclude that $\mathcal{O}_{X_{k''}, x''}$ is normal. By Lemma 33.10.2 we see that $X$ is geometrically normal at $x$. $\square$

Lemma 33.10.5. Let $k$ be a field. Let $X$ be a geometrically normal scheme over $k$ and let $Y$ be a normal scheme over $k$. Then $X \times _ k Y$ is a normal scheme.

Proof. This reduces to Algebra, Lemma 10.165.5 by Lemma 33.10.3. $\square$

Lemma 33.10.6. Let $k$ be a field. Let $X$ be a normal scheme over $k$. Let $K/k$ be a separable field extension. Then $X_ K$ is a normal scheme.

Lemma 33.10.7. Let $k$ be a field. Let $X$ be a proper geometrically normal scheme over $k$. The following are equivalent

  1. $H^0(X, \mathcal{O}_ X) = k$,

  2. $X$ is geometrically connected,

  3. $X$ is geometrically irreducible, and

  4. $X$ is geometrically integral.

Proof. By Lemma 33.9.5 we have the equivalence of (1) and (2). A locally Noetherian normal scheme (such as $X_{\overline{k}}$) is a disjoint union of its irreducible components (Properties, Lemma 28.7.6). Thus we see that (2) and (3) are equivalent. Since $X_{\overline{k}}$ is assumed reduced, we see that (3) and (4) are equivalent too. $\square$


Comments (0)


Post a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked.

In your comment you can use Markdown and LaTeX style mathematics (enclose it like $\pi$). A preview option is available if you wish to see how it works out (just click on the eye in the toolbar).

Unfortunately JavaScript is disabled in your browser, so the comment preview function will not work.

All contributions are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.




In order to prevent bots from posting comments, we would like you to prove that you are human. You can do this by filling in the name of the current tag in the following input field. As a reminder, this is tag 038L. Beware of the difference between the letter 'O' and the digit '0'.