80.5 Bootstrapping the diagonal
In this section we prove that the diagonal of a sheaf $F$ on $(\mathit{Sch}/S)_{fppf}$ is representable as soon as there exists an “fppf cover” of $F$ by a scheme or by an algebraic space, see Lemma 80.5.3.
slogan
Lemma 80.5.1. Let $S$ be a scheme. If $F$ is a presheaf on $(\mathit{Sch}/S)_{fppf}$. The following are equivalent:
$\Delta _ F : F \to F \times F$ is representable by algebraic spaces,
for every scheme $T$ any map $T \to F$ is representable by algebraic spaces, and
for every algebraic space $X$ any map $X \to F$ is representable by algebraic spaces.
Proof.
Assume (1). Let $X \to F$ be as in (3). Let $T$ be a scheme, and let $T \to F$ be a morphism. Then we have
\[ T \times _ F X = (T \times _ S X) \times _{F \times F, \Delta } F \]
which is an algebraic space by Lemma 80.3.7 and (1). Hence $X \to F$ is representable, i.e., (3) holds. The implication (3) $\Rightarrow $ (2) is trivial. Assume (2). Let $T$ be a scheme, and let $(a, b) : T \to F \times F$ be a morphism. Then
\[ F \times _{\Delta _ F, F \times F} T = (T \times _{a, F, b} T) \times _{T \times T, \Delta _ T} T \]
which is an algebraic space by assumption. Hence $\Delta _ F$ is representable by algebraic spaces, i.e., (1) holds.
$\square$
In particular if $F$ is a presheaf satisfying the equivalent conditions of the lemma, then for any morphism $X \to F$ where $X$ is an algebraic space it makes sense to say that $X \to F$ is surjective (resp. étale, flat, locally of finite presentation) by using Definition 80.4.1.
Before we actually do the bootstrap we prove a fun lemma.
Lemma 80.5.2. Let $S$ be a scheme. Let
\[ \xymatrix{ E \ar[r]_ a \ar[d]_ f & F \ar[d]^ g \\ H \ar[r]^ b & G } \]
be a cartesian diagram of sheaves on $(\mathit{Sch}/S)_{fppf}$, so $E = H \times _ G F$. If
$g$ is representable by algebraic spaces, surjective, flat, and locally of finite presentation, and
$a$ is representable by algebraic spaces, separated, and locally quasi-finite
then $b$ is representable (by schemes) as well as separated and locally quasi-finite.
Proof.
Let $T$ be a scheme, and let $T \to G$ be a morphism. We have to show that $T \times _ G H$ is a scheme, and that the morphism $T \times _ G H \to T$ is separated and locally quasi-finite. Thus we may base change the whole diagram to $T$ and assume that $G$ is a scheme. In this case $F$ is an algebraic space. Let $U$ be a scheme, and let $U \to F$ be a surjective étale morphism. Then $U \to F$ is representable, surjective, flat and locally of finite presentation by Morphisms of Spaces, Lemmas 67.39.7 and 67.39.8. By Lemma 80.3.8 $U \to G$ is surjective, flat and locally of finite presentation also. Note that the base change $E \times _ F U \to U$ of $a$ is still separated and locally quasi-finite (by Lemma 80.4.2). Hence we may replace the upper part of the diagram of the lemma by $E \times _ F U \to U$. In other words, we may assume that $F \to G$ is a surjective, flat morphism of schemes which is locally of finite presentation. In particular, $\{ F \to G\} $ is an fppf covering of schemes. By Morphisms of Spaces, Proposition 67.50.2 we conclude that $E$ is a scheme also. By Descent, Lemma 35.39.1 the fact that $E = H \times _ G F$ means that we get a descent datum on $E$ relative to the fppf covering $\{ F \to G\} $. By More on Morphisms, Lemma 37.57.1 this descent datum is effective. By Descent, Lemma 35.39.1 again this implies that $H$ is a scheme. By Descent, Lemmas 35.23.6 and 35.23.24 it now follows that $b$ is separated and locally quasi-finite.
$\square$
Here is the result that the section title refers to.
Lemma 80.5.3. Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $F : (\mathit{Sch}/S)_{fppf}^{opp} \to \textit{Sets}$ be a functor. Assume that
the presheaf $F$ is a sheaf,
there exists an algebraic space $X$ and a map $X \to F$ which is representable by algebraic spaces, surjective, flat and locally of finite presentation.
Then $\Delta _ F$ is representable (by schemes).
Proof.
Let $U \to X$ be a surjective étale morphism from a scheme towards $X$. Then $U \to X$ is representable, surjective, flat and locally of finite presentation by Morphisms of Spaces, Lemmas 67.39.7 and 67.39.8. By Lemma 80.4.3 the composition $U \to F$ is representable by algebraic spaces, surjective, flat and locally of finite presentation also. Thus we see that $R = U \times _ F U$ is an algebraic space, see Lemma 80.3.7. The morphism of algebraic spaces $R \to U \times _ S U$ is a monomorphism, hence separated (as the diagonal of a monomorphism is an isomorphism, see Morphisms of Spaces, Lemma 67.10.2). Since $U \to F$ is locally of finite presentation, both morphisms $R \to U$ are locally of finite presentation, see Lemma 80.4.2. Hence $R \to U \times _ S U$ is locally of finite type (use Morphisms of Spaces, Lemmas 67.28.5 and 67.23.6). Altogether this means that $R \to U \times _ S U$ is a monomorphism which is locally of finite type, hence a separated and locally quasi-finite morphism, see Morphisms of Spaces, Lemma 67.27.10.
Now we are ready to prove that $\Delta _ F$ is representable. Let $T$ be a scheme, and let $(a, b) : T \to F \times F$ be a morphism. Set
\[ T' = (U \times _ S U) \times _{F \times F} T. \]
Note that $U \times _ S U \to F \times F$ is representable by algebraic spaces, surjective, flat and locally of finite presentation by Lemma 80.4.4. Hence $T'$ is an algebraic space, and the projection morphism $T' \to T$ is surjective, flat, and locally of finite presentation. Consider $Z = T \times _{F \times F} F$ (this is a sheaf) and
\[ Z' = T' \times _{U \times _ S U} R = T' \times _ T Z. \]
We see that $Z'$ is an algebraic space, and $Z' \to T'$ is separated and locally quasi-finite by the discussion in the first paragraph of the proof which showed that $R$ is an algebraic space and that the morphism $R \to U \times _ S U$ has those properties. Hence we may apply Lemma 80.5.2 to the diagram
\[ \xymatrix{ Z' \ar[r] \ar[d] & T' \ar[d] \\ Z \ar[r] & T } \]
and we conclude.
$\square$
Here is a variant of the result above.
Lemma 80.5.4. Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $F : (\mathit{Sch}/S)_{fppf}^{opp} \to \textit{Sets}$ be a functor. Let $X$ be a scheme and let $X \to F$ be representable by algebraic spaces and locally quasi-finite. Then $X \to F$ is representable (by schemes).
Proof.
Let $T$ be a scheme and let $T \to F$ be a morphism. We have to show that the algebraic space $X \times _ F T$ is representable by a scheme. Consider the morphism
\[ X \times _ F T \longrightarrow X \times _{\mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(\mathbf{Z})} T \]
Since $X \times _ F T \to T$ is locally quasi-finite, so is the displayed arrow (Morphisms of Spaces, Lemma 67.27.8). On the other hand, the displayed arrow is a monomorphism and hence separated (Morphisms of Spaces, Lemma 67.10.3). Thus $X \times _ F T$ is a scheme by Morphisms of Spaces, Proposition 67.50.2.
$\square$
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