Lemma 35.4.24. If M \in \text{Mod}_ R is flat, then C(M) is an injective R-module.
35.4.23 Descent for properties of modules
Throughout this subsection, fix a universally injective ring map f : R \to S, an object M \in \text{Mod}_ R, and a ring map R \to A. We now investigate the question of which properties of M or A can be checked after base extension along f. We start with some results from [mesablishvili2].
Proof. Let 0 \to N \to P \to Q \to 0 be an exact sequence in \text{Mod}_ R. Since M is flat,
is exact. By Lemma 35.4.10,
is exact. By (35.4.11.1), this last sequence can be rewritten as
Hence C(M) is an injective object of \text{Mod}_ R. \square
Theorem 35.4.25. If M \otimes _ R S has one of the following properties as an S-module
finitely generated;
finitely presented;
flat;
faithfully flat;
finite projective;
then so does M as an R-module (and conversely).
Proof. To prove (a), choose a finite set \{ n_ i\} of generators of M \otimes _ R S in \text{Mod}_ S. Write each n_ i as \sum _ j m_{ij} \otimes s_{ij} with m_{ij} \in M and s_{ij} \in S. Let F be the finite free R-module with basis e_{ij} and let F \to M be the R-module map sending e_{ij} to m_{ij}. Then F \otimes _ R S\to M \otimes _ R S is surjective, so \mathop{\mathrm{Coker}}(F \to M) \otimes _ R S is zero and hence \mathop{\mathrm{Coker}}(F \to M) is zero. This proves (a).
To see (b) assume M \otimes _ R S is finitely presented. Then M is finitely generated by (a). Choose a surjection R^{\oplus n} \to M with kernel K. Then K \otimes _ R S \to S^{\oplus r} \to M \otimes _ R S \to 0 is exact. By Algebra, Lemma 10.5.3 the kernel of S^{\oplus r} \to M \otimes _ R S is a finite S-module. Thus we can find finitely many elements k_1, \ldots , k_ t \in K such that the images of k_ i \otimes 1 in S^{\oplus r} generate the kernel of S^{\oplus r} \to M \otimes _ R S. Let K' \subset K be the submodule generated by k_1, \ldots , k_ t. Then M' = R^{\oplus r}/K' is a finitely presented R-module with a morphism M' \to M such that M' \otimes _ R S \to M \otimes _ R S is an isomorphism. Thus M' \cong M as desired.
To prove (c), let 0 \to M' \to M'' \to M \to 0 be a short exact sequence in \text{Mod}_ R. Since \bullet \otimes _ R S is a right exact functor, M'' \otimes _ R S \to M \otimes _ R S is surjective. So by Lemma 35.4.10 the map C(M \otimes _ R S) \to C(M'' \otimes _ R S) is injective. If M \otimes _ R S is flat, then Lemma 35.4.24 shows C(M \otimes _ R S) is an injective object of \text{Mod}_ S, so the injection C(M \otimes _ R S) \to C(M'' \otimes _ R S) is split in \text{Mod}_ S and hence also in \text{Mod}_ R. Since C(M \otimes _ R S) \to C(M) is a split surjection by Lemma 35.4.12, it follows that C(M) \to C(M'') is a split injection in \text{Mod}_ R. That is, the sequence
is split exact. For N \in \text{Mod}_ R, by (35.4.11.1) we see that
is split exact. By Lemma 35.4.10,
is exact. This implies M is flat over R. Namely, taking M' a free module surjecting onto M we conclude that \text{Tor}_1^ R(M, N) = 0 for all modules N and we can use Algebra, Lemma 10.75.8. This proves (c).
To deduce (d) from (c), note that if N \in \text{Mod}_ R and M \otimes _ R N is zero, then M \otimes _ R S \otimes _ S (N \otimes _ R S) \cong (M \otimes _ R N) \otimes _ R S is zero, so N \otimes _ R S is zero and hence N is zero.
To deduce (e) at this point, it suffices to recall that M is finitely generated and projective if and only if it is finitely presented and flat. See Algebra, Lemma 10.78.2. \square
There is a variant for R-algebras.
Theorem 35.4.26. If A \otimes _ R S has one of the following properties as an S-algebra
of finite type;
of finite presentation;
formally unramified;
unramified;
étale;
then so does A as an R-algebra (and of course conversely).
Proof. To prove (a), choose a finite set \{ x_ i\} of generators of A \otimes _ R S over S. Write each x_ i as \sum _ j y_{ij} \otimes s_{ij} with y_{ij} \in A and s_{ij} \in S. Let F be the polynomial R-algebra on variables e_{ij} and let F \to M be the R-algebra map sending e_{ij} to y_{ij}. Then F \otimes _ R S\to A \otimes _ R S is surjective, so \mathop{\mathrm{Coker}}(F \to A) \otimes _ R S is zero and hence \mathop{\mathrm{Coker}}(F \to A) is zero. This proves (a).
To see (b) assume A \otimes _ R S is a finitely presented S-algebra. Then A is finite type over R by (a). Choose a surjection R[x_1, \ldots , x_ n] \to A with kernel I. Then I \otimes _ R S \to S[x_1, \ldots , x_ n] \to A \otimes _ R S \to 0 is exact. By Algebra, Lemma 10.6.3 the kernel of S[x_1, \ldots , x_ n] \to A \otimes _ R S is a finitely generated ideal. Thus we can find finitely many elements y_1, \ldots , y_ t \in I such that the images of y_ i \otimes 1 in S[x_1, \ldots , x_ n] generate the kernel of S[x_1, \ldots , x_ n] \to A \otimes _ R S. Let I' \subset I be the ideal generated by y_1, \ldots , y_ t. Then A' = R[x_1, \ldots , x_ n]/I' is a finitely presented R-algebra with a morphism A' \to A such that A' \otimes _ R S \to A \otimes _ R S is an isomorphism. Thus A' \cong A as desired.
To prove (c), recall that A is formally unramified over R if and only if the module of relative differentials \Omega _{A/R} vanishes, see Algebra, Lemma 10.148.2 or [Proposition 17.2.1, EGA4]. Since \Omega _{(A \otimes _ R S)/S} = \Omega _{A/R} \otimes _ R S, the vanishing descends by Theorem 35.4.22.
To deduce (d) from the previous cases, recall that A is unramified over R if and only if A is formally unramified and of finite type over R, see Algebra, Lemma 10.151.2.
To prove (e), recall that by Algebra, Lemma 10.151.8 or [Théorème 17.6.1, EGA4] the algebra A is étale over R if and only if A is flat, unramified, and of finite presentation over R. \square
Remark 35.4.27. It would make things easier to have a faithfully flat ring homomorphism g: R \to T for which T \to S \otimes _ R T has some extra structure. For instance, if one could ensure that T \to S \otimes _ R T is split in \textit{Rings}, then it would follow that every property of a module or algebra which is stable under base extension and which descends along faithfully flat morphisms also descends along universally injective morphisms. An obvious guess would be to find g for which T is not only faithfully flat but also injective in \text{Mod}_ R, but even for R = \mathbf{Z} no such homomorphism can exist.
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