A flat degeneration of a disconnected scheme is either disconnected or nonreduced.

Lemma 37.27.7. Let $f : X \to S$ be a morphism of schemes. Assume that

1. $S$ is the spectrum of a discrete valuation ring,

2. $f$ is flat,

3. $X$ is connected,

4. the closed fibre $X_ s$ is reduced.

Then the generic fibre $X_\eta$ is connected.

Proof. Write $S = \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(R)$ and let $\pi \in R$ be a uniformizer. To get a contradiction assume that $X_\eta$ is disconnected. This means there exists a nontrivial idempotent $e \in \Gamma (X_\eta , \mathcal{O}_{X_\eta })$. Let $U = \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(A)$ be any affine open in $X$. Note that $\pi$ is a nonzerodivisor on $A$ as $A$ is flat over $R$, see More on Algebra, Lemma 15.22.9 for example. Then $e|_{U_\eta }$ corresponds to an element $e \in A[1/\pi ]$. Let $z \in A$ be an element such that $e = z/\pi ^ n$ with $n \geq 0$ minimal. Note that $z^2 = \pi ^ nz$. This means that $z \bmod \pi A$ is nilpotent if $n > 0$. By assumption $A/\pi A$ is reduced, and hence minimality of $n$ implies $n = 0$. Thus we conclude that $e \in A$! In other words $e \in \Gamma (X, \mathcal{O}_ X)$. As $X$ is connected it follows that $e$ is a trivial idempotent which is a contradiction. $\square$

Comment #1116 by Simon Pepin Lehalleur on

Suggested slogan: A flat degeneration of a disconnected scheme is either disconnected or non-reduced.

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• 2 comment(s) on Section 37.27: Connected components of fibres

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