38.14 Examples of relatively pure modules
In the short section we discuss some examples of results that will serve as motivation for the notion of a relatively pure module and the concept of an impurity which we will introduce later. Each of the examples is stated as a lemma. Note the similarity with the condition on associated primes to the conditions appearing in Lemmas 38.7.4, 38.8.3, 38.8.4, and 38.9.1. See also Algebra, Lemma 10.65.1 for a discussion.
Lemma 38.14.1. Let R be a local ring with maximal ideal \mathfrak m. Let R \to S be a ring map. Let N be an S-module. Assume
N is projective as an R-module, and
S/\mathfrak mS is Noetherian and N/\mathfrak mN is a finite S/\mathfrak mS-module.
Then for any prime \mathfrak q \subset S which is an associated prime of N \otimes _ R \kappa (\mathfrak p) where \mathfrak p = R \cap \mathfrak q we have \mathfrak q + \mathfrak m S \not= S.
Proof.
Note that the hypotheses of Lemmas 38.7.1 and 38.7.6 are satisfied. We will use the conclusions of these lemmas without further mention. Let \Sigma \subset S be the multiplicative set of elements which are not zerodivisors on N/\mathfrak mN. The map N \to \Sigma ^{-1}N is R-universally injective. Hence we see that any \mathfrak q \subset S which is an associated prime of N \otimes _ R \kappa (\mathfrak p) is also an associated prime of \Sigma ^{-1}N \otimes _ R \kappa (\mathfrak p). Clearly this implies that \mathfrak q corresponds to a prime of \Sigma ^{-1}S. Thus \mathfrak q \subset \mathfrak q' where \mathfrak q' corresponds to an associated prime of N/\mathfrak mN and we win.
\square
The following lemma gives another (slightly silly) example of this phenomenon.
Lemma 38.14.2. Let R be a ring. Let I \subset R be an ideal. Let R \to S be a ring map. Let N be an S-module. If N is I-adically complete, then for any R-module M and for any prime \mathfrak q \subset S which is an associated prime of N \otimes _ R M we have \mathfrak q + I S \not= S.
Proof.
Let S^\wedge denote the I-adic completion of S. Note that N is an S^\wedge -module, hence also N \otimes _ R M is an S^\wedge -module. Let z \in N \otimes _ R M be an element such that \mathfrak q = \text{Ann}_ S(z). Since z \not= 0 we see that \text{Ann}_{S^\wedge }(z) \not= S^\wedge . Hence \mathfrak q S^\wedge \not= S^\wedge . Hence there exists a maximal ideal \mathfrak m \subset S^\wedge with \mathfrak q S^\wedge \subset \mathfrak m. Since IS^\wedge \subset \mathfrak m by Algebra, Lemma 10.96.6 we win.
\square
Note that the following lemma gives an alternative proof of Lemma 38.14.1 as a projective module over a local ring is free, see Algebra, Theorem 10.85.4.
Lemma 38.14.3. Let R be a local ring with maximal ideal \mathfrak m. Let R \to S be a ring map. Let N be an S-module. Assume N is isomorphic as an R-module to a direct sum of finite R-modules. Then for any R-module M and for any prime \mathfrak q \subset S which is an associated prime of N \otimes _ R M we have \mathfrak q + \mathfrak m S \not= S.
Proof.
Write N = \bigoplus _{i \in I} M_ i with each M_ i a finite R-module. Let M be an R-module and let \mathfrak q \subset S be an associated prime of N \otimes _ R M such that \mathfrak q + \mathfrak m S = S. Let z \in N \otimes _ R M be an element with \mathfrak q = \text{Ann}_ S(z). After modifying the direct sum decomposition a little bit we may assume that z \in M_1 \otimes _ R M for some element 1 \in I. Write 1 = f + \sum x_ j g_ j for some f \in \mathfrak q, x_ j \in \mathfrak m, and g_ j \in S. For any g \in S denote g' the R-linear map
M_1 \to N \xrightarrow {g} N \to M_1
where the first arrow is the inclusion map, the second arrow is multiplication by g and the third arrow is the projection map. Because each x_ j \in R we obtain the equality
f' + \sum x_ j g'_ j = \text{id}_{M_1} \in \text{End}_ R(M_1)
By Nakayama's lemma (Algebra, Lemma 10.20.1) we see that f' is surjective, hence by Algebra, Lemma 10.16.4 we see that f' is an isomorphism. In particular the map
M_1 \otimes _ R M \to N \otimes _ R M \xrightarrow {f} N \otimes _ R M \to M_1 \otimes _ R M
is an isomorphism. This contradicts the assumption that fz = 0.
\square
Lemma 38.14.4. Let R be a henselian local ring with maximal ideal \mathfrak m. Let R \to S be a ring map. Let N be an S-module. Assume N is countably generated and Mittag-Leffler as an R-module. Then for any R-module M and for any prime \mathfrak q \subset S which is an associated prime of N \otimes _ R M we have \mathfrak q + \mathfrak m S \not= S.
Proof.
This lemma reduces to Lemma 38.14.3 by Algebra, Lemma 10.153.13.
\square
Suppose f : X \to S is a morphism of schemes and \mathcal{F} is a quasi-coherent module on X. Let \xi \in \text{Ass}_{X/S}(\mathcal{F}) and let Z = \overline{\{ \xi \} }. Picture
\xymatrix{ \xi \ar@{|->}[d] & Z \ar[r] \ar[rd] & X \ar[d]^ f \\ f(\xi ) & & S }
Note that f(Z) \subset \overline{\{ f(\xi )\} } and that f(Z) is closed if and only if equality holds, i.e., f(Z) = \overline{\{ f(\xi )\} }. It follows from Lemma 38.14.1 that if S, X are affine, the fibres X_ s are Noetherian, \mathcal{F} is of finite type, and \Gamma (X, \mathcal{F}) is a projective \Gamma (S, \mathcal{O}_ S)-module, then f(Z) = \overline{\{ f(\xi )\} } is a closed subset. Slightly different analogous statements holds for the cases described in Lemmas 38.14.2, 38.14.3, and 38.14.4.
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