## 7.29 Morphisms of topoi

In this section we show that any morphism of topoi is equivalent to a morphism of topoi which comes from a morphism of sites. Please compare with [Exposé IV, Proposition 4.9.4, SGA4].

Lemma 7.29.1. Let $\mathcal{C}$, $\mathcal{D}$ be sites. Let $u : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{D}$ be a functor. Assume that

1. $u$ is cocontinuous,

2. $u$ is continuous,

3. given $a, b : U' \to U$ in $\mathcal{C}$ such that $u(a) = u(b)$, then there exists a covering $\{ f_ i : U'_ i \to U'\}$ in $\mathcal{C}$ such that $a \circ f_ i = b \circ f_ i$,

4. given $U', U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ and a morphism $c : u(U') \to u(U)$ in $\mathcal{D}$ there exists a covering $\{ f_ i : U_ i' \to U'\}$ in $\mathcal{C}$ and morphisms $c_ i : U_ i' \to U$ such that $u(c_ i) = c \circ u(f_ i)$, and

5. given $V \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$ there exists a covering of $V$ in $\mathcal{D}$ of the form $\{ u(U_ i) \to V\} _{i \in I}$.

Then the morphism of topoi

$g : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \longrightarrow \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$

associated to the cocontinuous functor $u$ by Lemma 7.21.1 is an equivalence.

Proof. Assume $u$ satisfies properties (1) – (5). We will show that the adjunction mappings

$\mathcal{G} \longrightarrow g_*g^{-1}\mathcal{G} \quad \text{and}\quad g^{-1}g_*\mathcal{F} \longrightarrow \mathcal{F}$

are isomorphisms.

Note that Lemma 7.21.5 applies and we have $g^{-1}\mathcal{G}(U) = \mathcal{G}(u(U))$ for any sheaf $\mathcal{G}$ on $\mathcal{D}$. Next, let $\mathcal{F}$ be a sheaf on $\mathcal{C}$, and let $V$ be an object of $\mathcal{D}$. By definition we have $g_*\mathcal{F}(V) = \mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits _{u(U) \to V} \mathcal{F}(U)$. Hence

$g^{-1}g_*\mathcal{F}(U) = \mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits _{U', u(U') \to u(U)} \mathcal{F}(U')$

where the morphisms $\psi : u(U') \to u(U)$ need not be of the form $u(\alpha )$. The category of such pairs $(U', \psi )$ has a final object, namely $(U, \text{id})$, which gives rise to the map from the limit into $\mathcal{F}(U)$. Let $(s_{(U', \psi )})$ be an element of the limit. We want to show that $s_{(U', \psi )}$ is uniquely determined by the value $s_{(U, \text{id})} \in \mathcal{F}(U)$. By property (4) given any $(U', \psi )$ there exists a covering $\{ U'_ i \to U'\}$ such that the compositions $u(U'_ i) \to u(U') \to u(U)$ are of the form $u(c_ i)$ for some $c_ i : U'_ i \to U$ in $\mathcal{C}$. Hence

$s_{(U', \psi )}|_{U'_ i} = c_ i^*(s_{(U, \text{id})}).$

Since $\mathcal{F}$ is a sheaf it follows that indeed $s_{(U', \psi )}$ is determined by $s_{(U, \text{id})}$. This proves uniqueness. For existence, assume given any $s \in \mathcal{F}(U)$, $\psi : u(U') \to u(U)$, $\{ f_ i : U_ i' \to U'\}$ and $c_ i : U_ i' \to U$ such that $\psi \circ u(f_ i) = u(c_ i)$ as above. We claim there exists a (unique) element $s_{(U', \psi )} \in \mathcal{F}(U')$ such that

$s_{(U', \psi )}|_{U'_ i} = c_ i^*(s).$

Namely, a priori it is not clear the elements $c_ i^*(s)|_{U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j'}$ and $c_ j^*(s)|_{U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j'}$ agree, since the diagram

$\xymatrix{ U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j' \ar[r]_-{\text{pr}_2} \ar[d]_{\text{pr}_1} & U_ j' \ar[d]^{c_ j} \\ U_ i' \ar[r]^{c_ i} & U}$

need not commute. But condition (3) of the lemma guarantees that there exist coverings $\{ f_{ijk} : U'_{ijk} \to U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j'\} _{k \in K_{ij}}$ such that $c_ i \circ \text{pr}_1 \circ f_{ijk} = c_ j \circ \text{pr}_2 \circ f_{ijk}$. Hence

$f_{ijk}^* \left(c_ i^*s|_{U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j'}\right) = f_{ijk}^* \left(c_ j^*s|_{U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j'}\right)$

Hence $c_ i^*(s)|_{U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j'} = c_ j^*(s)|_{U_ i' \times _{U'} U_ j'}$ by the sheaf condition for $\mathcal{F}$ and hence the existence of $s_{(U', \psi )}$ also by the sheaf condition for $\mathcal{F}$. The uniqueness guarantees that the collection $(s_{(U', \psi )})$ so obtained is an element of the limit with $s_{(U, \psi )} = s$. This proves that $g^{-1}g_*\mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{F}$ is an isomorphism.

Let $\mathcal{G}$ be a sheaf on $\mathcal{D}$. Let $V$ be an object of $\mathcal{D}$. Then we see that

$g_*g^{-1}\mathcal{G}(V) = \mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits _{U, \psi : u(U) \to V} \mathcal{G}(u(U))$

By the preceding paragraph we see that the value of the sheaf $g_*g^{-1}\mathcal{G}$ on an object $V$ of the form $V = u(U)$ is equal to $\mathcal{G}(u(U))$. (Formally, this holds because we have $g^{-1}g_*g^{-1} \cong g^{-1}$, and the description of $g^{-1}$ given at the beginning of the proof; informally just by comparing limits here and above.) Hence the adjunction mapping $\mathcal{G} \to g_*g^{-1}\mathcal{G}$ has the property that it is a bijection on sections over any object of the form $u(U)$. Since by axiom (5) there exists a covering of $V$ by objects of the form $u(U)$ we see easily that the adjunction map is an isomorphism. $\square$

It will be convenient to give cocontinuous functors as in Lemma 7.29.1 a name.

Definition 7.29.2. Let $\mathcal{C}$, $\mathcal{D}$ be sites. A special cocontinuous functor $u$ from $\mathcal{C}$ to $\mathcal{D}$ is a cocontinuous functor $u : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{D}$ satisfying the assumptions and conclusions of Lemma 7.29.1.

Lemma 7.29.3. Let $\mathcal{C}$, $\mathcal{D}$ be sites. Let $u : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{D}$ be a special cocontinuous functor. For every object $U$ of $\mathcal{C}$ we have a commutative diagram

$\xymatrix{ \mathcal{C}/U \ar[r]_{j_ U} \ar[d] & \mathcal{C} \ar[d]^ u \\ \mathcal{D}/u(U) \ar[r]^-{j_{u(U)}} & \mathcal{D} }$

as in Lemma 7.28.4. The left vertical arrow is a special cocontinuous functor. Hence in the commutative diagram of topoi

$\xymatrix{ \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}/U) \ar[r]_{j_ U} \ar[d] & \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \ar[d]^ u \\ \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D}/u(U)) \ar[r]^-{j_{u(U)}} & \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D}) }$

the vertical arrows are equivalences.

Proof. We have seen the existence and commutativity of the diagrams in Lemma 7.28.4. We have to check hypotheses (1) – (5) of Lemma 7.29.1 for the induced functor $u : \mathcal{C}/U \to \mathcal{D}/u(U)$. This is completely mechanical.

Property (1). This is Lemma 7.28.4.

Property (2). Let $\{ U_ i'/U \to U'/U\} _{i \in I}$ be a covering of $U'/U$ in $\mathcal{C}/U$. Because $u$ is continuous we see that $\{ u(U_ i')/u(U) \to u(U')/u(U)\} _{i \in I}$ is a covering of $u(U')/u(U)$ in $\mathcal{D}/u(U)$. Hence (2) holds for $u : \mathcal{C}/U \to \mathcal{D}/u(U)$.

Property (3). Let $a, b : U''/U \to U'/U$ in $\mathcal{C}/U$ be morphisms such that $u(a) = u(b)$ in $\mathcal{D}/u(U)$. Because $u$ satisfies (3) we see there exists a covering $\{ f_ i : U''_ i \to U''\}$ in $\mathcal{C}$ such that $a \circ f_ i = b \circ f_ i$. This gives a covering $\{ f_ i : U''_ i/U \to U''/U\}$ in $\mathcal{C}/U$ such that $a \circ f_ i = b \circ f_ i$. Hence (3) holds for $u : \mathcal{C}/U \to \mathcal{D}/u(U)$.

Property (4). Let $U''/U, U'/U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}/U)$ and a morphism $c : u(U'')/u(U) \to u(U')/u(U)$ in $\mathcal{D}/u(U)$ be given. Because $u$ satisfies property (4) there exists a covering $\{ f_ i : U_ i'' \to U''\}$ in $\mathcal{C}$ and morphisms $c_ i : U_ i'' \to U'$ such that $u(c_ i) = c \circ u(f_ i)$. We think of $U_ i''$ as an object over $U$ via the composition $U_ i'' \to U'' \to U$. It may not be true that $c_ i$ is a morphism over $U$! But since $u(c_ i)$ is a morphism over $u(U)$ we may apply property (3) for $u$ and find coverings $\{ f_{ik} : U''_{ik} \to U''_ i\}$ such that $c_{ik} = c_ i \circ f_{ik} : U''_{ik} \to U'$ are morphisms over $U$. Hence $\{ f_ i \circ f_{ik} : U''_{ik}/U \to U''/U\}$ is a covering in $\mathcal{C}/U$ such that $u(c_{ik}) = c \circ u(f_{ik})$. Hence (4) holds for $u : \mathcal{C}/U \to \mathcal{D}/u(U)$.

Property (5). Let $h : V \to u(U)$ be an object of $\mathcal{D}/u(U)$. Because $u$ satisfies property (5) there exists a covering $\{ c_ i : u(U_ i) \to V\}$ in $\mathcal{D}$. By property (4) we can find coverings $\{ f_{ij} : U_{ij} \to U_ i\}$ and morphisms $c_{ij} : U_{ij} \to U$ such that $u(c_{ij}) = h \circ c_ i \circ u(f_{ij})$. Hence $\{ u(U_{ij})/u(U) \to V/u(U)\}$ is a covering in $\mathcal{D}/u(U)$ of the desired shape and we conclude that (5) holds for $u : \mathcal{C}/U \to \mathcal{D}/u(U)$. $\square$

Lemma 7.29.4. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a site. Let $\mathcal{C}' \subset \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ be a full subcategory (with a set of objects) such that

1. $h_ U^\# \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}')$ for all $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$, and

2. $\mathcal{C}'$ is preserved under fibre products in $\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$.

Declare a covering of $\mathcal{C}'$ to be any family $\{ \mathcal{F}_ i \to \mathcal{F}\} _{i \in I}$ of maps such that $\coprod _{i \in I} \mathcal{F}_ i \to \mathcal{F}$ is a surjective map of sheaves. Then

1. $\mathcal{C}'$ is a site (after choosing a set of coverings, see Sets, Lemma 3.11.1),

2. representable presheaves on $\mathcal{C}'$ are sheaves (i.e., the topology on $\mathcal{C}'$ is subcanonical, see Definition 7.12.2),

3. the functor $v : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{C}'$, $U \mapsto h_ U^\#$ is a special cocontinuous functor, hence induces an equivalence $g : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}')$,

4. for any $\mathcal{F} \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}')$ we have $g^{-1}h_\mathcal {F} = \mathcal{F}$, and

5. for any $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ we have $g_*h_ U^\# = h_{v(U)} = h_{h_ U^\# }$.

Proof. Warning: Some of the statements above may look be a bit confusing at first; this is because objects of $\mathcal{C}'$ can also be viewed as sheaves on $\mathcal{C}$! We omit the proof that the coverings of $\mathcal{C}'$ as described in the lemma satisfy the conditions of Definition 7.6.2.

Suppose that $\{ \mathcal{F}_ i \to \mathcal{F}\}$ is a surjective family of morphisms of sheaves. Let $\mathcal{G}$ be another sheaf. Part (2) of the lemma says that the equalizer of

$\xymatrix{ \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})}( \coprod _{i \in I} \mathcal{F}_ i, \mathcal{G}) \ar@<1ex>[r] \ar@<-1ex>[r] & \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})}( \coprod _{(i_0, i_1) \in I \times I} \mathcal{F}_{i_0} \times _\mathcal {F} \mathcal{F}_{i_1}, \mathcal{G}) }$

is $\mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})}(\mathcal{F}, \mathcal{G}).$ This is clear (for example use Lemma 7.11.3).

To prove (3) we have to check conditions (1) – (5) of Lemma 7.29.1. The fact that $v$ is cocontinuous is equivalent to the description of surjective maps of sheaves in Lemma 7.11.2. The functor $v$ is continuous because $U \mapsto h_ U^\#$ commutes with fibre products, and transforms coverings into coverings (see Lemma 7.10.14, and Lemma 7.12.4). Properties (3), (4) of Lemma 7.29.1 are statements about morphisms $f : h_{U'}^\# \to h_ U^\#$. Such a morphism is the same thing as an element of $h_ U^\# (U')$. Hence (3) and (4) are immediate from the construction of the sheafification. Property (5) of Lemma 7.29.1 is Lemma 7.12.5. Denote $g : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}')$ the equivalence of topoi associated with $v$ by Lemma 7.29.1.

Let $\mathcal{F}$ be as in part (4) of the lemma. For any $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ we have

$g^{-1}h_\mathcal {F}(U) = h_\mathcal {F}(v(U)) = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})}(h_ U^\# , \mathcal{F}) = \mathcal{F}(U)$

The first equality by Lemma 7.21.5. Thus part (4) holds.

Let $\mathcal{F} \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}')$. Let $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$. Then

\begin{align*} g_*h_ U^\# (\mathcal{F}) & = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}')}(h_\mathcal {F}, g_*h_ U^\# ) \\ & = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})}(g^{-1}h_\mathcal {F}, h_ U^\# ) \\ & = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})}(\mathcal{F}, h_ U^\# ) \\ & = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathcal{C}'}(\mathcal{F}, h_ U^\# ) \end{align*}

as desired (where the third equality was shown above). $\square$

Using this we can massage any topos to live over a site having all finite limits.

Lemma 7.29.5. Let $\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ be a topos. Let $\{ \mathcal{F}_ i\} _{i \in I}$ be a set of sheaves on $\mathcal{C}$. There exists an equivalence of topoi $g : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}')$ induced by a special cocontinuous functor $u : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{C}'$ of sites such that

1. $\mathcal{C}'$ has a subcanonical topology,

2. a family $\{ V_ j \to V\}$ of morphisms of $\mathcal{C}'$ is (combinatorially equivalent to) a covering of $\mathcal{C}'$ if and only if $\coprod h_{V_ j} \to h_ V$ is surjective,

3. $\mathcal{C}'$ has fibre products and a final object (i.e., $\mathcal{C}'$ has all finite limits),

4. every subsheaf of a representable sheaf on $\mathcal{C}'$ is representable, and

5. each $g_*\mathcal{F}_ i$ is a representable sheaf.

Proof. Consider the full subcategory $\mathcal{C}_1 \subset \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ consisting of all $h_ U^\#$ for all $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$, the given sheaves $\mathcal{F}_ i$ and the final sheaf $*$ (see Example 7.10.2). We are going to inductively define full subcategories

$\mathcal{C}_1 \subset \mathcal{C}_2 \subset \mathcal{C}_2 \subset \ldots \subset \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$

Namely, given $\mathcal{C}_ n$ let $\mathcal{C}_{n + 1}$ be the full subcategory consisting of all fibre products and subsheaves of objects of $\mathcal{C}_ n$. (Note that $\mathcal{C}_{n + 1}$ has a set of objects.) Set $\mathcal{C}' = \bigcup _{n \geq 1} \mathcal{C}_ n$. A covering in $\mathcal{C}'$ is any family $\{ \mathcal{G}_ j \to \mathcal{G}\} _{j \in J}$ of morphisms of objects of $\mathcal{C}'$ such that $\coprod \mathcal{G}_ j \to \mathcal{G}$ is surjective as a map of sheaves on $\mathcal{C}$. The functor $v : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{C'}$ is given by $U \mapsto h_ U^\#$. Apply Lemma 7.29.4. $\square$

Here is the goal of the current section.

Lemma 7.29.6. Let $\mathcal{C}$, $\mathcal{D}$ be sites. Let $f : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$ be a morphism of topoi. Then there exists a site $\mathcal{C}'$ and a diagram of functors

$\xymatrix{ \mathcal{C} \ar[r]_ v & \mathcal{C}' & \mathcal{D} \ar[l]^ u }$

such that

1. the functor $v$ is a special cocontinuous functor,

2. the functor $u$ commutes with fibre products, is continuous and defines a morphism of sites $\mathcal{C}' \to \mathcal{D}$, and

3. the morphism of topoi $f$ agrees with the composition of morphisms of topoi

$\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \longrightarrow \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}') \longrightarrow \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$

where the first arrow comes from $v$ via Lemma 7.29.1 and the second arrow from $u$ via Lemma 7.15.2.

Proof. Consider the full subcategory $\mathcal{C}_1 \subset \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ consisting of all $h_ U^\#$ and all $f^{-1}h_ V^\#$ for all $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ and all $V \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$. Let $\mathcal{C}_{n + 1}$ be a full subcategory consisting of all fibre products of objects of $\mathcal{C}_ n$. Set $\mathcal{C}' = \bigcup _{n \geq 1} \mathcal{C}_ n$. A covering in $\mathcal{C}'$ is any family $\{ \mathcal{F}_ i \to \mathcal{F}\} _{i \in I}$ such that $\coprod _{i \in I} \mathcal{F}_ i \to \mathcal{F}$ is surjective as a map of sheaves on $\mathcal{C}$. The functor $v : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{C'}$ is given by $U \mapsto h_ U^\#$. The functor $u : \mathcal{D} \to \mathcal{C'}$ is given by $V \mapsto f^{-1}h_ V^\#$.

Part (1) follows from Lemma 7.29.4.

Proof of (2) and (3) of the lemma. The functor $u$ commutes with fibre products as both $V \mapsto h_ V^\#$ and $f^{-1}$ do. Moreover, since $f^{-1}$ is exact and commutes with arbitrary colimits we see that it transforms a covering into a surjective family of morphisms of sheaves. Hence $u$ is continuous. To see that it defines a morphism of sites we still have to see that $u_ s$ is exact. In order to do this we will show that $g^{-1} \circ u_ s = f^{-1}$. Namely, then since $g^{-1}$ is an equivalence and $f^{-1}$ is exact we will conclude. Because $g^{-1}$ is adjoint to $g_*$, and $u_ s$ is adjoint to $u^ s$, and $f^{-1}$ is adjoint to $f_*$ it also suffices to prove that $u^ s \circ g_* = f_*$. Let $U$ be an object of $\mathcal{C}$ and let $V$ be an object of $\mathcal{D}$. Then

\begin{align*} (u^ sg_*h_ U^\# )(V) & = g_*h_ U^\# (f^{-1}h_ V^\# ) \\ & = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})}(f^{-1}h_ V^\# , h_ U^\# ) \\ & = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})}(h_ V^\# , f_*h_ U^\# ) \\ & = f_*h_ U^\# (V) \end{align*}

The first equality because $u^ s = u^ p$. The second equality by Lemma 7.29.4 (5). The third equality by adjointness of $f_*$ and $f^{-1}$ and the final equality by properties of sheafification and the Yoneda lemma. We omit the verification that these identities are functorial in $U$ and $V$. Hence we see that we have $u^ s \circ g_* = f_*$ for sheaves of the form $h_ U^\#$. This implies that $u^ s \circ g_* = f_*$ and we win (some details omitted). $\square$

Remark 7.29.7. Notation and assumptions as in Lemma 7.29.6. If the site $\mathcal{D}$ has a final object and fibre products then the functor $u : \mathcal{D} \to \mathcal{C}'$ satisfies all the assumptions of Proposition 7.14.7. Namely, in addition to the properties mentioned in the lemma $u$ also transforms the final object of $\mathcal{D}$ into the final object of $\mathcal{C}'$. This is clear from the construction of $u$. Hence, if we first apply Lemmas 7.29.5 to $\mathcal{D}$ and then Lemma 7.29.6 to the resulting morphism of topoi $\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D}')$ we obtain the following statement: Any morphism of topoi $f : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$ fits into a commutative diagram

$\xymatrix{ \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \ar[d]_ g \ar[r]_ f & \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D}) \ar[d]^ e \\ \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}') \ar[r]^{f'} & \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D}') }$

where the following properties hold:

1. the morphisms $e$ and $g$ are equivalences given by special cocontinuous functors $\mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{C}'$ and $\mathcal{D} \to \mathcal{D}'$,

2. the sites $\mathcal{C}'$ and $\mathcal{D}'$ have fibre products, final objects and have subcanonical topologies,

3. the morphism $f' : \mathcal{C}' \to \mathcal{D}'$ comes from a morphism of sites corresponding to a functor $u : \mathcal{D}' \to \mathcal{C}'$ to which Proposition 7.14.7 applies, and

4. given any set of sheaves $\mathcal{F}_ i$ (resp. $\mathcal{G}_ j$) on $\mathcal{C}$ (resp. $\mathcal{D}$) we may assume each of these is a representable sheaf on $\mathcal{C}'$ (resp. $\mathcal{D}'$).

It is often useful to replace $\mathcal{C}$ and $\mathcal{D}$ by $\mathcal{C}'$ and $\mathcal{D}'$.

Remark 7.29.8. Notation and assumptions as in Lemma 7.29.6. Suppose that in addition the original morphism of topoi $\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$ is an equivalence. Then the construction in the proof of Lemma 7.29.6 gives two functors

$\mathcal{C} \rightarrow \mathcal{C}' \leftarrow \mathcal{D}$

which are both special cocontinuous functors. Hence in this case we can actually factor the morphism of topoi as a composition

$\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}) \rightarrow \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}') = \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D}') \leftarrow \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{D})$

as in Remark 7.29.7, but with the middle morphism an identity.

Comment #1157 by Julia on

Could it be possible to know the reference where Lemma 7.28.6 is proven? Thank you in advance.

Comment #1175 by on

The proof is right here? On the other hand, in a slightly different language I am sure you can find this lemma in SGA 4. When you find it, please leave a comment with the precise reference so I can add it for future visitors. Thanks!

Comment #1182 by Julia on

Thanks for your reply! I found an equivalent statement to 7.28.6.(Tag 03A2), which at first glance, as predicted, has a quite different appearance, but in the end provides us the same result, as it is stated at the beginning of this Tag 039Z: "In this section we show that any morphism of topoi is equivalent to a morphism of topoi which comes from a morphism of sites."

The statement is Proposition 4.9.4. Exposé IV, SGA 4.

Comment #1186 by Julia on

Furthermore, in order to get the whole result from statement 7.28.6. (Tag 03A2), I think one should also use Remarque 4.7.4. in Exposé IV, SGA 4, Tome 1.

Comment #1202 by on

Comment #1211 by Julia on

Thank you very much! My complete name is Julia Ramos González. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with these comments.

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