## 59.36 Inverse image

In this section we briefly discuss pullback of sheaves on the small étale sites. The precise construction of this is in Topologies, Section 34.4.

Definition 59.36.1. Let $f: X\to Y$ be a morphism of schemes. The inverse image, or pullback1 functors are the functors

$f^{-1} = f_{small}^{-1} : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (Y_{\acute{e}tale}) \longrightarrow \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (X_{\acute{e}tale})$

and

$f^{-1} = f_{small}^{-1} : \textit{Ab}(Y_{\acute{e}tale}) \longrightarrow \textit{Ab}(X_{\acute{e}tale})$

which are left adjoint to $f_* = f_{small, *}$. Thus $f^{-1}$ is characterized by the fact that

$\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (X_{\acute{e}tale})}} (f^{-1}\mathcal{G}, \mathcal{F}) = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (Y_{\acute{e}tale})} (\mathcal{G}, f_*\mathcal{F})$

functorially, for any $\mathcal{F} \in \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (X_{\acute{e}tale})$ and $\mathcal{G} \in \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (Y_{\acute{e}tale})$. We similarly have

$\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{{\textit{Ab}(X_{\acute{e}tale})}} (f^{-1}\mathcal{G}, \mathcal{F}) = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{\textit{Ab}(Y_{\acute{e}tale})} (\mathcal{G}, f_*\mathcal{F})$

for $\mathcal{F} \in \textit{Ab}(X_{\acute{e}tale})$ and $\mathcal{G} \in \textit{Ab}(Y_{\acute{e}tale})$.

It is not trivial that such an adjoint exists. On the other hand, it exists in a fairly general setting, see Remark 59.36.3 below. The general machinery shows that $f^{-1}\mathcal{G}$ is the sheaf associated to the presheaf

59.36.1.1
$$\label{etale-cohomology-equation-pullback} U/X \longmapsto \mathop{\mathrm{colim}}\nolimits _{U \to X \times _ Y V} \mathcal{G}(V/Y)$$

where the colimit is over the category of pairs $(V/Y, \varphi : U/X \to X \times _ Y V/X)$. To see this apply Sites, Proposition 7.14.7 to the functor $u$ of Equation (59.34.0.1) and use the description of $u_ s = (u_ p\ )^\#$ in Sites, Sections 7.13 and 7.5. We will occasionally use this formula for the pullback in order to prove some of its basic properties.

Lemma 59.36.2. Let $f : X \to Y$ be a morphism of schemes.

1. The functor $f^{-1} : \textit{Ab}(Y_{\acute{e}tale}) \to \textit{Ab}(X_{\acute{e}tale})$ is exact.

2. The functor $f^{-1} : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (Y_{\acute{e}tale}) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (X_{\acute{e}tale})$ is exact, i.e., it commutes with finite limits and colimits, see Categories, Definition 4.23.1.

3. Let $\overline{x} \to X$ be a geometric point. Let $\mathcal{G}$ be a sheaf on $Y_{\acute{e}tale}$. Then there is a canonical identification

$(f^{-1}\mathcal{G})_{\overline{x}} = \mathcal{G}_{\overline{y}}.$

where $\overline{y} = f \circ \overline{x}$.

4. For any $V \to Y$ étale we have $f^{-1}h_ V = h_{X \times _ Y V}$.

Proof. The exactness of $f^{-1}$ on sheaves of sets is a consequence of Sites, Proposition 7.14.7 applied to our functor $u$ of Equation (59.34.0.1). In fact the exactness of pullback is part of the definition of a morphism of topoi (or sites if you like). Thus we see (2) holds. It implies part (1) since given an abelian sheaf $\mathcal{G}$ on $Y_{\acute{e}tale}$ the underlying sheaf of sets of $f^{-1}\mathcal{F}$ is the same as $f^{-1}$ of the underlying sheaf of sets of $\mathcal{F}$, see Sites, Section 7.44. See also Modules on Sites, Lemma 18.31.2. In the literature (1) and (2) are sometimes deduced from (3) via Theorem 59.29.10.

Part (3) is a general fact about stalks of pullbacks, see Sites, Lemma 7.34.2. We will also prove (3) directly as follows. Note that by Lemma 59.29.9 taking stalks commutes with sheafification. Now recall that $f^{-1}\mathcal{G}$ is the sheaf associated to the presheaf

$U \longrightarrow \mathop{\mathrm{colim}}\nolimits _{U \to X \times _ Y V} \mathcal{G}(V),$

see Equation (59.36.1.1). Thus we have

\begin{align*} (f^{-1}\mathcal{G})_{\overline{x}} & = \mathop{\mathrm{colim}}\nolimits _{(U, \overline{u})} f^{-1}\mathcal{G}(U) \\ & = \mathop{\mathrm{colim}}\nolimits _{(U, \overline{u})} \mathop{\mathrm{colim}}\nolimits _{a : U \to X \times _ Y V} \mathcal{G}(V) \\ & = \mathop{\mathrm{colim}}\nolimits _{(V, \overline{v})} \mathcal{G}(V) \\ & = \mathcal{G}_{\overline{y}} \end{align*}

in the third equality the pair $(U, \overline{u})$ and the map $a : U \to X \times _ Y V$ corresponds to the pair $(V, a \circ \overline{u})$.

Part (4) can be proved in a similar manner by identifying the colimits which define $f^{-1}h_ V$. Or you can use Yoneda's lemma (Categories, Lemma 4.3.5) and the functorial equalities

$\mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (X_{\acute{e}tale})}(f^{-1}h_ V, \mathcal{F}) = \mathop{\mathrm{Mor}}\nolimits _{\mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (Y_{\acute{e}tale})}(h_ V, f_*\mathcal{F}) = f_*\mathcal{F}(V) = \mathcal{F}(X \times _ Y V)$

combined with the fact that representable presheaves are sheaves. See also Sites, Lemma 7.13.5 for a completely general result. $\square$

The pair of functors $(f_*, f^{-1})$ define a morphism of small étale topoi

$f_{small} : \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (X_{\acute{e}tale}) \longrightarrow \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (Y_{\acute{e}tale})$

Many generalities on cohomology of sheaves hold for topoi and morphisms of topoi. We will try to point out when results are general and when they are specific to the étale topos.

Remark 59.36.3. More generally, let $\mathcal{C}_1, \mathcal{C}_2$ be sites, and assume they have final objects and fibre products. Let $u: \mathcal{C}_2 \to \mathcal{C}_1$ be a functor satisfying:

1. if $\{ V_ i \to V\}$ is a covering of $\mathcal{C}_2$, then $\{ u(V_ i) \to u(V)\}$ is a covering of $\mathcal{C}_1$ (we say that $u$ is continuous), and

2. $u$ commutes with finite limits (i.e., $u$ is left exact, i.e., $u$ preserves fibre products and final objects).

Then one can define $f_*: \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}_1) \to \mathop{\mathit{Sh}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C}_2)$ by $f_* \mathcal{F}(V) = \mathcal{F}(u(V))$. Moreover, there exists an exact functor $f^{-1}$ which is left adjoint to $f_*$, see Sites, Definition 7.14.1 and Proposition 7.14.7. Warning: It is not enough to require simply that $u$ is continuous and commutes with fibre products in order to get a morphism of topoi.

[1] We use the notation $f^{-1}$ for pullbacks of sheaves of sets or sheaves of abelian groups, and we reserve $f^*$ for pullbacks of sheaves of modules via a morphism of ringed sites/topoi.

Comment #2053 by Yuzhou Gu on

In the comment after the proof of Lemma 36.2 and before Remark 36.3, what does it mean by "the pair of functors define a morphism of small etale topoi"? Each of the functor is already a morphism of small etale topoi.

I am also confused with the formula "f_small: Sh(X_etale)->Sh(Y_etale)". In other places "f_small" is used as a morphism of sites.

Comment #7381 by Long Liu on

Just a typo: in the sentence 'Thus $f^{-1}$ thus characterized by the fact ...', the second 'thus' should be 'is'.

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.

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 03PZ. Beware of the difference between the letter 'O' and the digit '0'.