Lemma 75.19.10. Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $f : X \to Y$ be a morphism of algebraic spaces over $S$. The following are equivalent:

1. $f$ is formally smooth,

2. for every diagram

$\xymatrix{ U \ar[d] \ar[r]_\psi & V \ar[d] \\ X \ar[r]^ f & Y }$

where $U$ and $V$ are schemes and the vertical arrows are étale the morphism of schemes $\psi$ is formally smooth (as in More on Morphisms, Definition 37.6.1), and

3. for one such diagram with surjective vertical arrows the morphism $\psi$ is formally smooth.

Proof. We have seen that (1) implies (2) and (3) in Lemma 75.19.5. Assume (3). The proof that $f$ is formally smooth is entirely similar to the proof of (1) $\Rightarrow$ (2) of Lemma 75.19.6.

Consider a solid commutative diagram

$\xymatrix{ X \ar[d]_ f & T \ar[d]^ i \ar[l]^ a \\ Y & T' \ar[l] \ar@{-->}[lu] }$

as in Definition 75.19.1. We will show the dotted arrow exists thereby proving that $f$ is formally smooth. Let $\mathcal{F}$ be the sheaf of sets on $(T')_{spaces, {\acute{e}tale}}$ of Lemma 75.17.4 as in the special case discussed in Remark 75.17.6. Let

$\mathcal{H} = \mathop{\mathcal{H}\! \mathit{om}}\nolimits _{\mathcal{O}_ T}(a^*\Omega _{X/Y}, \mathcal{C}_{T/T'})$

be the sheaf of $\mathcal{O}_ T$-modules on $T_{spaces, {\acute{e}tale}}$ with action $\mathcal{H} \times \mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{F}$ as in Lemma 75.17.5. The action $\mathcal{H} \times \mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{F}$ turns $\mathcal{F}$ into a pseudo $\mathcal{H}$-torsor, see Cohomology on Sites, Definition 21.4.1. Our goal is to show that $\mathcal{F}$ is a trivial $\mathcal{H}$-torsor. There are two steps: (I) To show that $\mathcal{F}$ is a torsor we have to show that $\mathcal{F}$ has étale locally a section. (II) To show that $\mathcal{F}$ is the trivial torsor it suffices to show that $H^1(T_{\acute{e}tale}, \mathcal{H}) = 0$, see Cohomology on Sites, Lemma 21.4.3.

First we prove (I). To see this consider a diagram (which exists because we are assuming (3))

$\xymatrix{ U \ar[d] \ar[r]_\psi & V \ar[d] \\ X \ar[r]^ f & Y }$

where $U$ and $V$ are schemes, the vertical arrows are étale and surjective, and $\psi$ is formally smooth. By Lemma 75.13.5 the morphism $V \to Y$ is formally étale. Thus by Lemma 75.13.3 the composition $U \to Y$ is formally smooth. Then (I) follows from Lemma 75.13.6 part (4).

Finally we prove (II). By Lemma 75.19.8 we see that $\Omega _{U/V}$ locally projective. Hence $\Omega _{X/Y}$ is locally projective, see Descent on Spaces, Lemma 73.6.5. Hence $a^*\Omega _{X/Y}$ is locally projective, see Properties of Spaces, Lemma 65.31.3. Hence

$H^1(T_{\acute{e}tale}, \mathcal{H}) = H^1(T_{\acute{e}tale}, \mathop{\mathcal{H}\! \mathit{om}}\nolimits _{\mathcal{O}_ T}(a^*\Omega _{X/Y}, \mathcal{C}_{T/T'}) = 0$

by Lemma 75.19.9 as desired. $\square$

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