Lemma 77.8.1. Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $j : R \to U \times _ S U$ be an equivalence relation on schemes over $S$. Assume $s, t : R \to U$ are flat and locally of finite presentation. Then there exists an equivalence relation $j' : R' \to U'\times _ S U'$ on schemes over $S$, and an isomorphism

$U'/R' \longrightarrow U/R$

induced by a morphism $U' \to U$ which maps $R'$ into $R$ such that $s', t' : R \to U$ are flat, locally of finite presentation and locally quasi-finite.

Proof. We will prove this lemma in several steps. We will use without further mention that an equivalence relation gives rise to a groupoid scheme and that the restriction of an equivalence relation is an equivalence relation, see Groupoids, Lemmas 39.3.2, 39.13.3, and 39.18.3.

Step 1: We may assume that $s, t : R \to U$ are locally of finite presentation and Cohen-Macaulay morphisms. Namely, as in More on Groupoids, Lemma 40.8.1 let $g : U' \to U$ be the open subscheme such that $t^{-1}(U') \subset R$ is the maximal open over which $s : R \to U$ is Cohen-Macaulay, and denote $R'$ the restriction of $R$ to $U'$. By the lemma cited above we see that

$\xymatrix{ t^{-1}(U') \ar@{=}[r] & U' \times _{g, U, t} R \ar[r]_-{\text{pr}_1} \ar@/^3ex/[rr]^ h & R \ar[r]_ s & U }$

is surjective. Since $h$ is flat and locally of finite presentation, we see that $\{ h\}$ is a fppf covering. Hence by Groupoids, Lemma 39.20.6 we see that $U'/R' \to U/R$ is an isomorphism. By the construction of $U'$ we see that $s', t'$ are Cohen-Macaulay and locally of finite presentation.

Step 2. Assume $s, t$ are Cohen-Macaulay and locally of finite presentation. Let $u \in U$ be a point of finite type. By More on Groupoids, Lemma 40.12.4 there exists an affine scheme $U'$ and a morphism $g : U' \to U$ such that

1. $g$ is an immersion,

2. $u \in U'$,

3. $g$ is locally of finite presentation,

4. $h$ is flat, locally of finite presentation and locally quasi-finite, and

5. the morphisms $s', t' : R' \to U'$ are flat, locally of finite presentation and locally quasi-finite.

Here we have used the notation introduced in More on Groupoids, Situation 40.12.1.

Step 3. For each point $u \in U$ which is of finite type choose a $g_ u : U'_ u \to U$ as in Step 2 and denote $R'_ u$ the restriction of $R$ to $U'_ u$. Denote $h_ u = s \circ \text{pr}_1 : U'_ u \times _{g_ u, U, t} R \to U$. Set $U' = \coprod _{u \in U} U'_ u$, and $g = \coprod g_ u$. Let $R'$ be the restriction of $R$ to $U$ as above. We claim that the pair $(U', g)$ works1. Note that

\begin{align*} R' = & \coprod \nolimits _{u_1, u_2 \in U} (U'_{u_1} \times _{g_{u_1}, U, t} R) \times _ R (R \times _{s, U, g_{u_2}} U'_{u_2}) \\ = & \coprod \nolimits _{u_1, u_2 \in U} (U'_{u_1} \times _{g_{u_1}, U, t} R) \times _{h_{u_1}, U, g_{u_2}} U'_{u_2} \end{align*}

Hence the projection $s' : R' \to U' = \coprod U'_{u_2}$ is flat, locally of finite presentation and locally quasi-finite as a base change of $\coprod h_{u_1}$. Finally, by construction the morphism $h : U' \times _{g, U, t} R \to U$ is equal to $\coprod h_ u$ hence its image contains all points of finite type of $U$. Since each $h_ u$ is flat and locally of finite presentation we conclude that $h$ is flat and locally of finite presentation. In particular, the image of $h$ is open (see Morphisms, Lemma 29.24.10) and since the set of points of finite type is dense (see Morphisms, Lemma 29.15.7) we conclude that the image of $h$ is $U$. This implies that $\{ h\}$ is an fppf covering. By Groupoids, Lemma 39.20.6 this means that $U'/R' \to U/R$ is an isomorphism. This finishes the proof of the lemma. $\square$

[1] Here we should check that $U'$ is not too large, i.e., that it is isomorphic to an object of the category $\mathit{Sch}_{fppf}$, see Section 77.2. This is a purely set theoretical matter; let us use the notion of size of a scheme introduced in Sets, Section 3.9. Note that each $U'_ u$ has size at most the size of $U$ and that the cardinality of the index set is at most the cardinality of $|U|$ which is bounded by the size of $U$. Hence $U'$ is isomorphic to an object of $\mathit{Sch}_{fppf}$ by Sets, Lemma 3.9.9 part (6).

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).