Definition 21.4.1. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a site. Let $\mathcal{G}$ be a sheaf of (possibly non-commutative) groups on $\mathcal{C}$. A pseudo torsor, or more precisely a pseudo $\mathcal{G}$-torsor, is a sheaf of sets $\mathcal{F}$ on $\mathcal{C}$ endowed with an action $\mathcal{G} \times \mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{F}$ such that
whenever $\mathcal{F}(U)$ is nonempty the action $\mathcal{G}(U) \times \mathcal{F}(U) \to \mathcal{F}(U)$ is simply transitive.
A morphism of pseudo $\mathcal{G}$-torsors $\mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{F}'$ is simply a morphism of sheaves of sets compatible with the $\mathcal{G}$-actions. A torsor, or more precisely a $\mathcal{G}$-torsor, is a pseudo $\mathcal{G}$-torsor such that in addition
for every $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ there exists a covering $\{ U_ i \to U\} _{i \in I}$ of $U$ such that $\mathcal{F}(U_ i)$ is nonempty for all $i \in I$.
A morphism of $\mathcal{G}$-torsors is simply a morphism of pseudo $\mathcal{G}$-torsors. The trivial $\mathcal{G}$-torsor is the sheaf $\mathcal{G}$ endowed with the obvious left $\mathcal{G}$-action.
It is clear that a morphism of torsors is automatically an isomorphism.
Lemma 21.4.2. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a site. Let $\mathcal{G}$ be a sheaf of (possibly non-commutative) groups on $\mathcal{C}$. A $\mathcal{G}$-torsor $\mathcal{F}$ is trivial if and only if $\Gamma (\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{F}) \not= \emptyset $.
Proof. Omitted. $\square$
Lemma 21.4.3. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a site. Let $\mathcal{H}$ be an abelian sheaf on $\mathcal{C}$. There is a canonical bijection between the set of isomorphism classes of $\mathcal{H}$-torsors and $H^1(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{H})$.
Proof. Let $\mathcal{F}$ be a $\mathcal{H}$-torsor. Consider the free abelian sheaf $\mathbf{Z}[\mathcal{F}]$ on $\mathcal{F}$. It is the sheafification of the rule which associates to $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$ the collection of finite formal sums $\sum n_ i[s_ i]$ with $n_ i \in \mathbf{Z}$ and $s_ i \in \mathcal{F}(U)$. There is a natural map
which to a local section $\sum n_ i[s_ i]$ associates $\sum n_ i$. The kernel of $\sigma $ is generated by sections of the form $[s] - [s']$. There is a canonical map $a : \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(\sigma ) \to \mathcal{H}$ which maps $[s] - [s'] \mapsto h$ where $h$ is the local section of $\mathcal{H}$ such that $h \cdot s = s'$. Consider the pushout diagram
Here $\mathcal{E}$ is the extension obtained by pushout. From the long exact cohomology sequence associated to the lower short exact sequence we obtain an element $\xi = \xi _\mathcal {F} \in H^1(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{H})$ by applying the boundary operator to $1 \in H^0(\mathcal{C}, \underline{\mathbf{Z}})$.
Conversely, given $\xi \in H^1(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{H})$ we can associate to $\xi $ a torsor as follows. Choose an embedding $\mathcal{H} \to \mathcal{I}$ of $\mathcal{H}$ into an injective abelian sheaf $\mathcal{I}$. We set $\mathcal{Q} = \mathcal{I}/\mathcal{H}$ so that we have a short exact sequence
The element $\xi $ is the image of a global section $q \in H^0(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{Q})$ because $H^1(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{I}) = 0$ (see Derived Categories, Lemma 13.20.4). Let $\mathcal{F} \subset \mathcal{I}$ be the subsheaf (of sets) of sections that map to $q$ in the sheaf $\mathcal{Q}$. It is easy to verify that $\mathcal{F}$ is a $\mathcal{H}$-torsor.
We omit the verification that the two constructions given above are mutually inverse. $\square$
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).
All contributions are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Comments (5)
Comment #2761 by Anonymous on
Comment #2869 by Johan on
Comment #4521 by Simon on
Comment #4522 by Johan on
Comment #8676 by Gabriel on