
## 27.10 Dimension

The dimension of a scheme is just the dimension of its underlying topological space.

Definition 27.10.1. Let $X$ be a scheme.

1. The dimension of $X$ is just the dimension of $X$ as a topological spaces, see Topology, Definition 5.10.1.

2. For $x \in X$ we denote $\dim _ x(X)$ the dimension of the underlying topological space of $X$ at $x$ as in Topology, Definition 5.10.1. We say $\dim _ x(X)$ is the dimension of $X$ at $x$.

As a scheme has a sober underlying topological space (Schemes, Lemma 25.11.1) we may compute the dimension of $X$ as the supremum of the lengths $n$ of chains

$T_0 \subset T_1 \subset \ldots \subset T_ n$

of irreducible closed subsets of $X$, or as the supremum of the lengths $n$ of chains of specializations

$\xi _ n \leadsto \xi _{n - 1} \leadsto \ldots \leadsto \xi _0$

of points of $X$.

Lemma 27.10.2. Let $X$ be a scheme. The following are equal

1. The dimension of $X$.

2. The supremum of the dimensions of the local rings of $X$.

3. The supremum of $\dim _ x(X)$ for $x \in X$.

Proof. Note that given a chain of specializations

$\xi _ n \leadsto \xi _{n - 1} \leadsto \ldots \leadsto \xi _0$

of points of $X$ all of the points $\xi _ i$ correspond to prime ideals of the local ring of $X$ at $\xi _0$ by Schemes, Lemma 25.13.2. Hence we see that the dimension of $X$ is the supremum of the dimensions of its local rings. In particular $\dim _ x(X) \geq \dim (\mathcal{O}_{X, x})$ as $\dim _ x(X)$ is the minimum of the dimensions of open neighbourhoods of $x$. Thus $\sup _{x \in X} \dim _ x(X) \geq \dim (X)$. On the other hand, it is clear that $\sup _{x \in X} \dim _ x(X) \leq \dim (X)$ as $\dim (U) \leq \dim (X)$ for any open subset of $X$. $\square$

Lemma 27.10.3. Let $X$ be a scheme. Let $Y \subset X$ be an irreducible closed subset. Let $\xi \in Y$ be the generic point. Then

$\text{codim}(Y, X) = \dim (\mathcal{O}_{X, \xi })$

where the codimension is as defined in Topology, Definition 5.11.1.

Proof. By Topology, Lemma 5.11.2 we may replace $X$ by an affine open neighbourhood of $\xi$. In this case the result follows easily from Algebra, Lemma 10.25.3. $\square$

Lemma 27.10.4. Let $X$ be a scheme. Let $x \in X$. Then $x$ is a generic point of an irreducible component of $X$ if and only if $\dim (\mathcal{O}_{X, x}) = 0$.

Proof. This follows from Lemma 27.10.3 for example. $\square$

Lemma 27.10.5. A locally Noetherian scheme of dimension $0$ is a disjoint union of spectra of Artinian local rings.

Proof. A Noetherian ring of dimension $0$ is a finite product of Artinian local rings, see Algebra, Proposition 10.59.6. Hence an affine open of a locally Noetherian scheme $X$ of dimension $0$ has discrete underlying topological space. This implies that the topology on $X$ is discrete. The lemma follows easily from these remarks. $\square$

Lemma 27.10.6. Let $X$ be a scheme of dimension zero. The following are equivalent

1. $X$ is quasi-separated,

2. $X$ is separated,

3. $X$ is Hausdorff,

4. every affine open is closed.

In this case the connected components of $X$ are points.

Proof. As the dimension of $X$ is zero, we see that for any affine open $U \subset X$ the space $U$ is profinite and satisfies a bunch of other properties which we will use freely below, see Algebra, Lemma 10.25.5. We choose an affine open covering $X = \bigcup U_ i$.

If (4) holds, then $U_ i \cap U_ j$ is a closed subset of $U_ i$, hence quasi-compact, hence $X$ is quasi-separated, by Schemes, Lemma 25.21.6, hence (1) holds.

If (1) holds, then $U_ i \cap U_ j$ is a quasi-compact open of $U_ i$ hence closed in $U_ i$. Then $U_ i \cap U_ j \to U_ i$ is an open immersion whose image is closed, hence it is a closed immersion. In particular $U_ i \cap U_ j$ is affine and $\mathcal{O}(U_ i) \to \mathcal{O}_ X(U_ i \cap U_ j)$ is surjective. Thus $X$ is separated by Schemes, Lemma 25.21.6, hence (2) holds.

Assume (2) and let $x, y \in X$. Say $x \in U_ i$. If $y \in U_ i$ too, then we can find disjoint open neighbourhoods of $x$ and $y$ because $U_ i$ is Hausdorff. Say $y \not\in U_ i$ and $y \in U_ j$. Then $y \not\in U_ i \cap U_ j$ which is an affine open of $U_ j$ and hence closed in $U_ j$. Thus we can find an open neighbourhood of $y$ not meeting $U_ i$ and we conclude that $X$ is Hausdorff, hence (3) holds.

Assume (3). Let $U \subset X$ be affine open. Then $U$ is closed in $X$ by Topology, Lemma 5.12.4. This proves (4) holds.

We omit the proof of the final statement. $\square$

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