## 101.3 Notation

Different topologies. If we indicate an algebraic stack by a calligraphic letter, such as $\mathcal{X}, \mathcal{Y}, \mathcal{Z}$, then the notation $\mathcal{X}_{Zar}, \mathcal{X}_{\acute{e}tale}, \mathcal{X}_{smooth}, \mathcal{X}_{syntomic}, \mathcal{X}_{fppf}$ indicates the site introduced in Sheaves on Stacks, Definition 94.4.1. (Think “big site”.) Correspondingly the structure sheaf of $\mathcal{X}$ is a sheaf on $\mathcal{X}_{fppf}$. On the other hand, algebraic spaces and schemes are usually indicated by roman capitals, such as $X, Y, Z$, and in this case $X_{\acute{e}tale}$ indicates the small étale site of $X$ (as defined in Topologies, Definition 34.4.8 or Properties of Spaces, Definition 64.18.1). It seems that the distinction should be clear enough.

The default topology is the fppf topology. Hence we will sometimes say “sheaf on $\mathcal{X}$” or “sheaf of $\mathcal{O}_\mathcal {X}$” modules when we mean sheaf on $\mathcal{X}_{fppf}$ or object of $\textit{Mod}(\mathcal{X}_{fppf}, \mathcal{O}_\mathcal {X})$.

If $f : \mathcal{X} \to \mathcal{Y}$ is a morphism of algebraic stacks, then the functors $f_*$ and $f^{-1}$ defined on presheaves preserves sheaves for any of the topologies mentioned above. In particular when we discuss the pushforward or pullback of a sheaf we don't have to mention which topology we are working with. The same isn't true when we compute cohomology groups and/or higher direct images. In this case we will always mention which topology we are working with.

Suppose that $f : X \to \mathcal{Y}$ is a morphism from an algebraic space $X$ to an algebraic stack $\mathcal{Y}$. Let $\mathcal{G}$ be a sheaf on $\mathcal{Y}_\tau$ for some topology $\tau$. In this case $f^{-1}\mathcal{G}$ is a sheaf for the $\tau$ topology on $\mathcal{S}_ X$ (the algebraic stack associated to $X$) because (by our conventions) $f$ really is a $1$-morphism $f : \mathcal{S}_ X \to \mathcal{Y}$. If $\tau = {\acute{e}tale}$ or stronger, then we write $f^{-1}\mathcal{G}|_{X_{\acute{e}tale}}$ to denote the restriction to the étale site of $X$, see Sheaves on Stacks, Section 94.21. If $\mathcal{G}$ is an $\mathcal{O}_\mathcal {X}$-module we sometimes write $f^*\mathcal{G}$ and $f^*\mathcal{G}|_{X_{\acute{e}tale}}$ instead.

Comment #5936 by Dario Weißmann on

second paragraph: I suggest to move the second " in "sheaf of O_X" modules to the end and write O_X - modules instead of O_X modules

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).