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The Stacks project

47.15 Dualizing complexes

In this section we define dualizing complexes for Noetherian rings.

Definition 47.15.1. Let A be a Noetherian ring. A dualizing complex is a complex of A-modules \omega _ A^\bullet such that

  1. \omega _ A^\bullet has finite injective dimension,

  2. H^ i(\omega _ A^\bullet ) is a finite A-module for all i, and

  3. A \to R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\omega _ A^\bullet , \omega _ A^\bullet ) is a quasi-isomorphism.

This definition takes some time getting used to. It is perhaps a good idea to prove some of the following lemmas yourself without reading the proofs.

Lemma 47.15.2. Let A be a Noetherian ring. Let K, L \in D_{\textit{Coh}}(A) and assume L has finite injective dimension. Then R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(K, L) is in D_{\textit{Coh}}(A).

Proof. Pick an integer n and consider the distinguished triangle

\tau _{\leq n}K \to K \to \tau _{\geq n + 1}K \to \tau _{\leq n}K[1]

see Derived Categories, Remark 13.12.4. Since L has finite injective dimension we see that R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\tau _{\geq n + 1}K, L) has vanishing cohomology in degrees \geq c - n for some constant c. Hence, given i, we see that \mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits ^ i_ A(K, L) \to \mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits ^ i_ A(\tau _{\leq n}K, L) is an isomorphism for some n \gg - i. By Derived Categories of Schemes, Lemma 36.11.5 applied to \tau _{\leq n}K and L we see conclude that \mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits ^ i_ A(K, L) is a finite A-module for all i. Hence R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(K, L) is indeed an object of D_{\textit{Coh}}(A). \square

Lemma 47.15.3. Let A be a Noetherian ring. If \omega _ A^\bullet is a dualizing complex, then the functor

D : K \longmapsto R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(K, \omega _ A^\bullet )

is an anti-equivalence D_{\textit{Coh}}(A) \to D_{\textit{Coh}}(A) which exchanges D^+_{\textit{Coh}}(A) and D^-_{\textit{Coh}}(A) and induces an anti-equivalence D^ b_{\textit{Coh}}(A) \to D^ b_{\textit{Coh}}(A). Moreover D \circ D is isomorphic to the identity functor.

Proof. Let K be an object of D_{\textit{Coh}}(A). From Lemma 47.15.2 we see R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(K, \omega _ A^\bullet ) is an object of D_{\textit{Coh}}(A). By More on Algebra, Lemma 15.98.2 and the assumptions on the dualizing complex we obtain a canonical isomorphism

K = R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\omega _ A^\bullet , \omega _ A^\bullet ) \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} K \longrightarrow R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(K, \omega _ A^\bullet ), \omega _ A^\bullet )

Thus our functor has a quasi-inverse and the proof is complete. \square

Let R be a ring. Recall that an object L of D(R) is invertible if it is an invertible object for the symmetric monoidal structure on D(R) given by derived tensor product. In More on Algebra, Lemma 15.126.4 we have seen this means L is perfect, L = \bigoplus H^ n(L)[-n], this is a finite sum, each H^ n(L) is finite projective, and there is an open covering \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(R) = \bigcup D(f_ i) such that L \otimes _ R R_{f_ i} \cong R_{f_ i}[-n_ i] for some integers n_ i.

Lemma 47.15.4. Let A be a Noetherian ring. Let F : D^ b_{\textit{Coh}}(A) \to D^ b_{\textit{Coh}}(A) be an A-linear equivalence of categories. Then F(A) is an invertible object of D(A).

Proof. Let \mathfrak m \subset A be a maximal ideal with residue field \kappa . Consider the object F(\kappa ). Since \kappa = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(A)}(\kappa , \kappa ) we find that all cohomology groups of F(\kappa ) are annihilated by \mathfrak m. We also see that

\mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits ^ i_ A(\kappa , \kappa ) = \text{Ext}^ i_ A(F(\kappa ), F(\kappa )) = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(A)}(F(\kappa ), F(\kappa )[i])

is zero for i < 0. Say H^ a(F(\kappa )) \not= 0 and H^ b(F(\kappa )) \not= 0 with a minimal and b maximal (so in particular a \leq b). Then there is a nonzero map

F(\kappa ) \to H^ b(F(\kappa ))[-b] \to H^ a(F(\kappa ))[-b] \to F(\kappa )[a - b]

in D(A) (nonzero because it induces a nonzero map on cohomology). This proves that b = a. We conclude that F(\kappa ) = \kappa [-a].

Let G be a quasi-inverse to our functor F. Arguing as above we find an integer b such that G(\kappa ) = \kappa [-b]. On composing we find a + b = 0. Let E be a finite A-module which is annihilated by a power of \mathfrak m. Arguing by induction on the length of E we find that G(E) = E'[-b] for some finite A-module E' annihilated by a power of \mathfrak m. Then E[-a] = F(E'). Next, we consider the groups

\mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits ^ i_ A(A, E') = \text{Ext}^ i_ A(F(A), F(E')) = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(A)}(F(A), E[-a + i])

The left hand side is nonzero if and only if i = 0 and then we get E'. Applying this with E = E' = \kappa and using Nakayama's lemma this implies that H^ j(F(A))_\mathfrak m is zero for j > a and generated by 1 element for j = a. On the other hand, if H^ j(F(A))_\mathfrak m is not zero for some j < a, then there is a map F(A) \to E[-a + i] for some i < 0 and some E (More on Algebra, Lemma 15.65.7) which is a contradiction. Thus we see that F(A)_\mathfrak m = M[-a] for some A_\mathfrak m-module M generated by 1 element. However, since

A_\mathfrak m = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(A)}(A, A)_\mathfrak m = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(A)}(F(A), F(A))_\mathfrak m = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{A_\mathfrak m}(M, M)

we see that M \cong A_\mathfrak m. We conclude that there exists an element f \in A, f \not\in \mathfrak m such that F(A)_ f is isomorphic to A_ f[-a]. This finishes the proof. \square

Lemma 47.15.5. Let A be a Noetherian ring. If \omega _ A^\bullet and (\omega '_ A)^\bullet are dualizing complexes, then (\omega '_ A)^\bullet is quasi-isomorphic to \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} L for some invertible object L of D(A).

Proof. By Lemmas 47.15.3 and 47.15.4 the functor K \mapsto R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(K, \omega _ A^\bullet ), (\omega _ A')^\bullet ) maps A to an invertible object L. In other words, there is an isomorphism

L \longrightarrow R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\omega _ A^\bullet , (\omega _ A')^\bullet )

Since L has finite tor dimension, this means that we can apply More on Algebra, Lemma 15.98.2 to see that

R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\omega _ A^\bullet , (\omega '_ A)^\bullet ) \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} K \longrightarrow R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(K, \omega _ A^\bullet ), (\omega _ A')^\bullet )

is an isomorphism for K in D^ b_{\textit{Coh}}(A). In particular, setting K = \omega _ A^\bullet finishes the proof. \square

Lemma 47.15.6. Let A be a Noetherian ring. Let B = S^{-1}A be a localization. If \omega _ A^\bullet is a dualizing complex, then \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B is a dualizing complex for B.

Proof. Let \omega _ A^\bullet \to I^\bullet be a quasi-isomorphism with I^\bullet a bounded complex of injectives. Then S^{-1}I^\bullet is a bounded complex of injective B = S^{-1}A-modules (Lemma 47.3.8) representing \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B. Thus \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B has finite injective dimension. Since H^ i(\omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B) = H^ i(\omega _ A^\bullet ) \otimes _ A B by flatness of A \to B we see that \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B has finite cohomology modules. Finally, the map

B \longrightarrow R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B, \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B)

is a quasi-isomorphism as formation of internal hom commutes with flat base change in this case, see More on Algebra, Lemma 15.99.2. \square

Lemma 47.15.7. Let A be a Noetherian ring. Let f_1, \ldots , f_ n \in A generate the unit ideal. If \omega _ A^\bullet is a complex of A-modules such that (\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_ i} is a dualizing complex for A_{f_ i} for all i, then \omega _ A^\bullet is a dualizing complex for A.

Proof. Consider the double complex

\prod \nolimits _{i_0} (\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_{i_0}} \to \prod \nolimits _{i_0 < i_1} (\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_{i_0}f_{i_1}} \to \ldots

The associated total complex is quasi-isomorphic to \omega _ A^\bullet for example by Descent, Remark 35.3.10 or by Derived Categories of Schemes, Lemma 36.9.4. By assumption the complexes (\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_ i} have finite injective dimension as complexes of A_{f_ i}-modules. This implies that each of the complexes (\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_{i_0} \ldots f_{i_ p}}, p > 0 has finite injective dimension over A_{f_{i_0} \ldots f_{i_ p}}, see Lemma 47.3.8. This in turn implies that each of the complexes (\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_{i_0} \ldots f_{i_ p}}, p > 0 has finite injective dimension over A, see Lemma 47.3.2. Hence \omega _ A^\bullet has finite injective dimension as a complex of A-modules (as it can be represented by a complex endowed with a finite filtration whose graded parts have finite injective dimension). Since H^ n(\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_ i} is a finite A_{f_ i} module for each i we see that H^ i(\omega _ A^\bullet ) is a finite A-module, see Algebra, Lemma 10.23.2. Finally, the (derived) base change of the map A \to R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\omega _ A^\bullet , \omega _ A^\bullet ) to A_{f_ i} is the map A_{f_ i} \to R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A((\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_ i}, (\omega _ A^\bullet )_{f_ i}) by More on Algebra, Lemma 15.99.2. Hence we deduce that A \to R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\omega _ A^\bullet , \omega _ A^\bullet ) is an isomorphism and the proof is complete. \square

Lemma 47.15.8. Let A \to B be a finite ring map of Noetherian rings. Let \omega _ A^\bullet be a dualizing complex. Then R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ) is a dualizing complex for B.

Proof. Let \omega _ A^\bullet \to I^\bullet be a quasi-isomorphism with I^\bullet a bounded complex of injectives. Then \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(B, I^\bullet ) is a bounded complex of injective B-modules (Lemma 47.3.4) representing R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ). Thus R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ) has finite injective dimension. By Lemma 47.13.4 it is an object of D_{\textit{Coh}}(B). Finally, we compute

\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(B)}(R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ), R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet )) = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(A)}(R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ), \omega _ A^\bullet ) = B

and for n \not= 0 we compute

\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(B)}(R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ), R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet )[n]) = \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _{D(A)}(R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ), \omega _ A^\bullet [n]) = 0

which proves the last property of a dualizing complex. In the displayed equations, the first equality holds by Lemma 47.13.1 and the second equality holds by Lemma 47.15.3. \square

Lemma 47.15.9. Let A \to B be a surjective homomorphism of Noetherian rings. Let \omega _ A^\bullet be a dualizing complex. Then R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits (B, \omega _ A^\bullet ) is a dualizing complex for B.

Proof. Special case of Lemma 47.15.8. \square

Lemma 47.15.10. Let A be a Noetherian ring. If \omega _ A^\bullet is a dualizing complex, then \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A A[x] is a dualizing complex for A[x].

Proof. Set B = A[x] and \omega _ B^\bullet = \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B. It follows from Lemma 47.3.10 and More on Algebra, Lemma 15.69.5 that \omega _ B^\bullet has finite injective dimension. Since H^ i(\omega _ B^\bullet ) = H^ i(\omega _ A^\bullet ) \otimes _ A B by flatness of A \to B we see that \omega _ A^\bullet \otimes _ A B has finite cohomology modules. Finally, the map

B \longrightarrow R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ B(\omega _ B^\bullet , \omega _ B^\bullet )

is a quasi-isomorphism as formation of internal hom commutes with flat base change in this case, see More on Algebra, Lemma 15.99.2. \square

Proposition 47.15.11. Let A be a Noetherian ring which has a dualizing complex. Then any A-algebra essentially of finite type over A has a dualizing complex.

Lemma 47.15.12. Let A be a Noetherian ring. Let \omega _ A^\bullet be a dualizing complex. Let \mathfrak m \subset A be a maximal ideal and set \kappa = A/\mathfrak m. Then R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\kappa , \omega _ A^\bullet ) \cong \kappa [n] for some n \in \mathbf{Z}.

Proof. This is true because R\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(\kappa , \omega _ A^\bullet ) is a dualizing complex over \kappa (Lemma 47.15.9), because dualizing complexes over \kappa are unique up to shifts (Lemma 47.15.5), and because \kappa is a dualizing complex over \kappa . \square


Comments (2)

Comment #4850 by Weixiao Lu on

In the proof of 0A7C, it should be "" instead of "" and "" instead of "".


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