
8.13 Stacks and localization

Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a site. Let $U$ be an object of $\mathcal{C}$. We want to understand stacks over $\mathcal{C}/U$ as stacks over $\mathcal{C}$ together with a morphism towards $U$. The following lemma is the reason why this is easier to do when the presheaf $h_ U$ is a sheaf.

Lemma 8.13.1. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a site. Let $U \in \mathop{\mathrm{Ob}}\nolimits (\mathcal{C})$. Then $j_ U : \mathcal{C}/U \to \mathcal{C}$ is a stack over $\mathcal{C}$ if and only if $h_ U$ is a sheaf.

Proof. Combine Lemma 8.6.3 with Categories, Example 4.37.7. $\square$

Assume that $\mathcal{C}$ is a site, and $U$ is an object of $\mathcal{C}$ whose associated representable presheaf is a sheaf. We denote $j : \mathcal{C}/U \to \mathcal{C}$ the localization functor.

Construction A. Let $p : \mathcal{S} \to \mathcal{C}/U$ be a stack over the site $\mathcal{C}/U$. We define a stack $j_!p : j_!\mathcal{S} \to \mathcal{C}$ as follows:

1. As a category $j_!\mathcal{S} = \mathcal{S}$, and

2. the functor $j_!p : j_!\mathcal{S} \to \mathcal{C}$ is just the composition $j \circ p$.

We omit the verification that this is a stack (hint: Use that $h_ U$ is a sheaf to glue morphisms to $U$). There is a canonical functor

$j_!\mathcal{S} \longrightarrow \mathcal{C}/U$

namely the functor $p$ which is a $1$-morphism of stacks over $\mathcal{C}$.

Construction B. Let $q : \mathcal{T} \to \mathcal{C}$ be a stack over $\mathcal{C}$ which is endowed with a morphism of stacks $p : \mathcal{T} \to \mathcal{C}/U$ over $\mathcal{C}$. In this case it is automatically the case that $p : \mathcal{T} \to \mathcal{C}/U$ is a stack over $\mathcal{C}/U$.

Lemma 8.13.2. Assume that $\mathcal{C}$ is a site, and $U$ is an object of $\mathcal{C}$ whose associated representable presheaf is a sheaf. Constructions A and B above define mutually inverse (!) functors of $2$-categories

$\left\{ \begin{matrix} 2\text{-category of} \\ \text{stacks over }\mathcal{C}/U \end{matrix} \right\} \leftrightarrow \left\{ \begin{matrix} 2\text{-category of pairs }(\mathcal{T}, p) \text{ consisting} \\ \text{of a stack }\mathcal{T}\text{ over }\mathcal{C}\text{ and a morphism} \\ p : \mathcal{T} \to \mathcal{C}/U\text{ of stacks over }\mathcal{C} \end{matrix} \right\}$

Proof. This is clear. $\square$

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).