Definition 20.49.1. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let \mathcal{E}^\bullet be a complex of \mathcal{O}_ X-modules. We say \mathcal{E}^\bullet is perfect if there exists an open covering X = \bigcup U_ i such that for each i there exists a morphism of complexes \mathcal{E}_ i^\bullet \to \mathcal{E}^\bullet |_{U_ i} which is a quasi-isomorphism with \mathcal{E}_ i^\bullet a strictly perfect complex of \mathcal{O}_{U_ i}-modules. An object E of D(\mathcal{O}_ X) is perfect if it can be represented by a perfect complex of \mathcal{O}_ X-modules.
20.49 Perfect complexes
In this section we discuss properties of perfect complexes on ringed spaces.
If X is quasi-compact, then a perfect object of D(\mathcal{O}_ X) is in D^ b(\mathcal{O}_ X). But this need not be the case if X is not quasi-compact.
Lemma 20.49.2. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let E be an object of D(\mathcal{O}_ X).
If there exists an open covering X = \bigcup U_ i and strictly perfect complexes \mathcal{E}_ i^\bullet on U_ i such that \mathcal{E}_ i^\bullet represents E|_{U_ i} in D(\mathcal{O}_{U_ i}), then E is perfect.
If E is perfect, then any complex representing E is perfect.
Proof. Identical to the proof of Lemma 20.47.2. \square
Lemma 20.49.3. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let E be an object of D(\mathcal{O}_ X). Assume that all stalks \mathcal{O}_{X, x} are local rings. Then the following are equivalent
E is perfect,
there exists an open covering X = \bigcup U_ i such that E|_{U_ i} can be represented by a finite complex of finite locally free \mathcal{O}_{U_ i}-modules, and
there exists an open covering X = \bigcup U_ i such that E|_{U_ i} can be represented by a finite complex of finite free \mathcal{O}_{U_ i}-modules.
Proof. This follows from Lemma 20.49.2 and the fact that on X every direct summand of a finite free module is finite locally free. See Modules, Lemma 17.14.6. \square
Lemma 20.49.4. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let E be an object of D(\mathcal{O}_ X). Let a \leq b be integers. If E has tor amplitude in [a, b] and is (a - 1)-pseudo-coherent, then E is perfect.
Proof. After replacing X by the members of an open covering we may assume there exists a strictly perfect complex \mathcal{E}^\bullet and a map \alpha : \mathcal{E}^\bullet \to E such that H^ i(\alpha ) is an isomorphism for i \geq a. We may and do replace \mathcal{E}^\bullet by \sigma _{\geq a - 1}\mathcal{E}^\bullet . Choose a distinguished triangle
From the vanishing of cohomology sheaves of E and \mathcal{E}^\bullet and the assumption on \alpha we obtain C \cong \mathcal{K}[2 - a] with \mathcal{K} = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(\mathcal{E}^{a - 1} \to \mathcal{E}^ a). Let \mathcal{F} be an \mathcal{O}_ X-module. Applying - \otimes _{\mathcal{O}_ X}^\mathbf {L} \mathcal{F} the assumption that E has tor amplitude in [a, b] implies \mathcal{K} \otimes _{\mathcal{O}_ X} \mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{E}^{a - 1} \otimes _{\mathcal{O}_ X} \mathcal{F} has image \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(\mathcal{E}^{a - 1} \otimes _{\mathcal{O}_ X} \mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{E}^ a \otimes _{\mathcal{O}_ X} \mathcal{F}). It follows that \text{Tor}_1^{\mathcal{O}_ X}(\mathcal{E}', \mathcal{F}) = 0 where \mathcal{E}' = \mathop{\mathrm{Coker}}(\mathcal{E}^{a - 1} \to \mathcal{E}^ a). Hence \mathcal{E}' is flat (Lemma 20.26.16). Thus \mathcal{E}' is locally a direct summand of a finite free module by Modules, Lemma 17.18.3. Thus locally the complex
is quasi-isomorphic to E and E is perfect. \square
Lemma 20.49.5. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let E be an object of D(\mathcal{O}_ X). The following are equivalent
E is perfect, and
E is pseudo-coherent and locally has finite tor dimension.
Proof. Assume (1). By definition this means there exists an open covering X = \bigcup U_ i such that E|_{U_ i} is represented by a strictly perfect complex. Thus E is pseudo-coherent (i.e., m-pseudo-coherent for all m) by Lemma 20.47.2. Moreover, a direct summand of a finite free module is flat, hence E|_{U_ i} has finite Tor dimension by Lemma 20.48.3. Thus (2) holds.
Assume (2). After replacing X by the members of an open covering we may assume there exist integers a \leq b such that E has tor amplitude in [a, b]. Since E is m-pseudo-coherent for all m we conclude using Lemma 20.49.4. \square
Lemma 20.49.6. Let f : (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) \to (Y, \mathcal{O}_ Y) be a morphism of ringed spaces. Let E be an object of D(\mathcal{O}_ Y). If E is perfect in D(\mathcal{O}_ Y), then Lf^*E is perfect in D(\mathcal{O}_ X).
Proof. This follows from Lemma 20.49.5, 20.48.4, and 20.47.3. (An alternative proof is to copy the proof of Lemma 20.47.3.) \square
Lemma 20.49.7. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let (K, L, M, f, g, h) be a distinguished triangle in D(\mathcal{O}_ X). If two out of three of K, L, M are perfect then the third is also perfect.
Proof. First proof: Combine Lemmas 20.49.5, 20.47.4, and 20.48.6. Second proof (sketch): Say K and L are perfect. After replacing X by the members of an open covering we may assume that K and L are represented by strictly perfect complexes \mathcal{K}^\bullet and \mathcal{L}^\bullet . After replacing X by the members of an open covering we may assume the map K \to L is given by a map of complexes \alpha : \mathcal{K}^\bullet \to \mathcal{L}^\bullet , see Lemma 20.46.8. Then M is isomorphic to the cone of \alpha which is strictly perfect by Lemma 20.46.2. \square
Lemma 20.49.8. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. If K, L are perfect objects of D(\mathcal{O}_ X), then so is K \otimes _{\mathcal{O}_ X}^\mathbf {L} L.
Proof. Follows from Lemmas 20.49.5, 20.47.5, and 20.48.7. \square
Lemma 20.49.9. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. If K \oplus L is a perfect object of D(\mathcal{O}_ X), then so are K and L.
Proof. Follows from Lemmas 20.49.5, 20.47.6, and 20.48.8. \square
Lemma 20.49.10. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let j : U \to X be an open subspace. Let E be a perfect object of D(\mathcal{O}_ U) whose cohomology sheaves are supported on a closed subset T \subset U with j(T) closed in X. Then Rj_*E is a perfect object of D(\mathcal{O}_ X).
Proof. Being a perfect complex is local on X. Thus it suffices to check that Rj_*E is perfect when restricted to U and V = X \setminus j(T). We have Rj_*E|_ U = E which is perfect. We have Rj_*E|_ V = 0 because E|_{U \setminus T} = 0. \square
Lemma 20.49.11. Let (X, \mathcal{O}_ X) be a ringed space. Let E in D(\mathcal{O}_ X) be perfect. Assume that all stalks \mathcal{O}_{X, x} are local rings. Then the set
is open in X and is the maximal open set U \subset X such that H^ i(E)|_ U is finite locally free for all i \in \mathbf{Z}.
Proof. Note that if V \subset X is some open such that H^ i(E)|_ V is finite locally free for all i \in \mathbf{Z} then V \subset U. Let x \in U. We will show that an open neighbourhood of x is contained in U and that H^ i(E) is finite locally free on this neighbourhood for all i. This will finish the proof. During the proof we may (finitely many times) replace X by an open neighbourhood of x. Hence we may assume E is represented by a strictly perfect complex \mathcal{E}^\bullet . Say \mathcal{E}^ i = 0 for i \not\in [a, b]. We will prove the result by induction on b - a. The module H^ b(E) = \mathop{\mathrm{Coker}}(d^{b - 1} : \mathcal{E}^{b - 1} \to \mathcal{E}^ b) is of finite presentation. Since H^ b(E)_ x is finite free, we conclude H^ b(E) is finite free in an open neighbourhood of x by Modules, Lemma 17.11.6. Thus after replacing X by a (possibly smaller) open neighbourhood we may assume we have a direct sum decomposition \mathcal{E}^ b = \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(d^{b - 1}) \oplus H^ b(E) and H^ b(E) is finite free, see Lemma 20.46.5. Doing the same argument again, we see that we may assume \mathcal{E}^{b - 1} = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(d^{b - 1}) \oplus \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(d^{b - 1}). The complex \mathcal{E}^ a \to \ldots \to \mathcal{E}^{b - 2} \to \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(d^{b - 1}) is a strictly perfect complex representing a perfect object E' with H^ i(E) = H^ i(E') for i \not= b. Hence we conclude by our induction hypothesis. \square
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