## 38.32 Compactifications

Let $S$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme. We will say a scheme $X$ over $S$ has a compactification over $S$ or is compactifyable over $S$ if there exists a quasi-compact open immersion $X \to \overline{X}$ into a scheme $\overline{X}$ proper over $S$. If $X$ has a compactification over $S$, then $X \to S$ is separated and of finite type. It is a theorem of Nagata, see , , [Nagata-1], [Nagata-2], [Nagata-3], and [Nagata-4], that the converse is true as well. We will prove this theorem in the next section, see Theorem 38.33.8.

Let $S$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme. Let $X \to S$ be a separated finite type morphism of schemes. The category of compactifications of $X$ over $S$ is the category defined as follows:

1. Objects are open immersions $j : X \to \overline{X}$ over $S$ with $\overline{X} \to S$ proper.

2. Morphisms $(j' : X \to \overline{X}') \to (j : X \to \overline{X})$ are morphisms $f : \overline{X}' \to \overline{X}$ of schemes over $S$ such that $f \circ j' = j$.

If $j : X \to \overline{X}$ is a compactification, then $j$ is a quasi-compact open immersion, see Schemes, Remark 26.21.18.

Warning. We do not assume compactifications $j : X \to \overline{X}$ to have dense image. Consequently, if $f : \overline{X}' \to \overline{X}$ is a morphism of compactifications, it may not be the case that $f^{-1}(j(X)) = j'(X)$.

Lemma 38.32.1. Let $S$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme. Let $X$ be a compactifyable scheme over $S$.

1. The category of compactifications of $X$ over $S$ is cofiltered.

2. The full subcategory consisting of compactifications $j : X \to \overline{X}$ such that $j(X)$ is dense and scheme theoretically dense in $\overline{X}$ is initial (Categories, Definition 4.17.3).

3. If $f : \overline{X}' \to \overline{X}$ is a morphism of compactifications of $X$ such that $j'(X)$ is dense in $\overline{X}'$, then $f^{-1}(j(X)) = j'(X)$.

Proof. To prove part (a) we have to check conditions (1), (2), (3) of Categories, Definition 4.20.1. Condition (1) holds exactly because we assumed that $X$ is compactifyable. Let $j_ i : X \to \overline{X}_ i$, $i = 1, 2$ be two compactifications. Then we can consider the scheme theoretic image $\overline{X}$ of $(j_1, j_2) : X \to \overline{X}_1 \times _ S \overline{X}_2$. This determines a third compactification $j : X \to \overline{X}$ which dominates both $j_ i$:

$\xymatrix{ (X, \overline{X}_1) & (X, \overline{X}) \ar[l] \ar[r] & (X, \overline{X}_2) }$

Thus (2) holds. Let $f_1, f_2 : \overline{X}_1 \to \overline{X}_2$ be two morphisms between compactifications $j_ i : X \to \overline{X}_ i$, $i = 1, 2$. Let $\overline{X} \subset \overline{X}_1$ be the equalizer of $f_1$ and $f_2$. As $\overline{X}_2 \to S$ is separated, we see that $\overline{X}$ is a closed subscheme of $\overline{X}_1$ and hence proper over $S$. Moreover, we obtain an open immersion $X \to \overline{X}$ because $f_1|_ X = f_2|_ X = \text{id}_ X$. The morphism $(X \to \overline{X}) \to (j_1 : X \to \overline{X}_1)$ given by the closed immersion $\overline{X} \to \overline{X}_1$ equalizes $f_1$ and $f_2$ which proves condition (3).

Proof of (b). Let $j : X \to \overline{X}$ be a compactification. If $\overline{X}'$ denotes the scheme theoretic closure of $X$ in $\overline{X}$, then $X$ is dense and scheme theoretically dense in $\overline{X}'$ by Morphisms, Lemma 29.7.7. This proves the first condition of Categories, Definition 4.17.3. Since we have already shown the category of compactifications of $X$ is cofiltered, the second condition of Categories, Definition 4.17.3 follows from the first (we omit the solution to this categorical exercise).

Proof of (c). After replacing $\overline{X}'$ with the scheme theoretic closure of $j'(X)$ (which doesn't change the underlying topological space) this follows from Morphisms, Lemma 29.6.8. $\square$

We can also consider the category of all compactifications (for varying $X$). It turns out that this category, localized at the set of morphisms which induce an isomorphism on the interior is equivalent to the category of compactifyable schemes over $S$.

Lemma 38.32.2. Let $S$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme. Let $f : X \to Y$ be a morphism of schemes over $S$ with $Y$ separated and of finite type over $S$ and $X$ compactifyable over $S$. Then $X$ has a compactification over $Y$.

Proof. Let $j : X \to \overline{X}$ be a compactification of $X$ over $S$. Then we let $\overline{X}'$ be the scheme theoretic image of $(j, f) : X \to \overline{X} \times _ S Y$. The morphism $\overline{X}' \to Y$ is proper because $\overline{X} \times _ S Y \to Y$ is proper as a base change of $\overline{X} \to S$. On the other hand, since $Y$ is separated over $S$, the morphism $(1, f) : X \to X \times _ S Y$ is a closed immersion (Schemes, Lemma 26.21.10) and hence $X \to \overline{X}'$ is an open immersion by Morphisms, Lemma 29.6.8 applied to the “partial section” $s = (j, f)$ to the projection $\overline{X} \times _ S Y \to \overline{X}$. $\square$

Let $S$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme. We define the category of compactifications to be the category whose objects are pairs $(X, \overline{X})$ where $\overline{X}$ is a scheme proper over $S$ and $X \subset \overline{X}$ is a quasi-compact open and whose morphisms are commutative diagrams

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

of morphisms of schemes over $S$.

Lemma 38.32.3. Let $S$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme. The collection of morphisms $(u, \overline{u}) : (X', \overline{X}') \to (X, \overline{X})$ such that $u$ is an isomorphism forms a right multiplicative system (Categories, Definition 4.27.1) of arrows in the category of compactifications.

Proof. Axiom RMS1 is trivial to verify. Let us check RMS2 holds. Suppose given a diagram

$\xymatrix{ & (X', \overline{X}') \ar[d]_{(u, \overline{u})} \\ (Y, \overline{Y}) \ar[r]^{(f, \overline{f})} & (X, \overline{X}) }$

with $u : X' \to X$ an isomorphism. Then we let $Y' = Y \times _ X X'$ with the projection map $v : Y' \to Y$ (an isomorphism). We also set $\overline{Y}' = \overline{Y} \times _{\overline{X}} \overline{X}'$ with the projection map $\overline{v} : \overline{Y}' \to \overline{Y}$ It is clear that $Y' \to \overline{Y}'$ is an open immersion. The diagram

$\xymatrix{ (Y', \overline{Y}') \ar[r]_{(g, \overline{g})} \ar[d]_{(v, \overline{v})} & (X', \overline{X}') \ar[d]_{(u, \overline{u})} \\ (Y, \overline{Y}) \ar[r]^{(f, \overline{f})} & (X, \overline{X}) }$

shows that axiom RMS2 holds.

Let us check RMS3 holds. Suppose given a pair of morphisms $(f, \overline{f}), (g, \overline{g}) : (X, \overline{X}) \to (Y, \overline{Y})$ of compactifications and a morphism $(v, \overline{v}) : (Y, \overline{Y}) \to (Y', \overline{Y}')$ such that $v$ is an isomorphism and such that $(v, \overline{v}) \circ (f, \overline{f}) = (v, \overline{v}) \circ (g, \overline{g})$. Then $f = g$. Hence if we let $\overline{X}' \subset \overline{X}$ be the equalizer of $\overline{f}$ and $\overline{g}$, then $(u, \overline{u}) : (X, \overline{X}') \to (X, \overline{X})$ will be a morphism of the category of compactifications such that $(f, \overline{f}) \circ (u, \overline{u}) = (g, \overline{g}) \circ (u, \overline{u})$ as desired. $\square$

Lemma 38.32.4. Let $S$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme. The functor $(X, \overline{X}) \mapsto X$ defines an equivalence from the category of compactifications localized (Categories, Lemma 4.27.11) at the right multiplicative system of Lemma 38.32.3 to the category of compactifyable schemes over $S$.

Proof. Denote $\mathcal{C}$ the category of compactifications and denote $Q : \mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{C}'$ the localization functor of Categories, Lemma 4.27.16. Denote $\mathcal{D}$ the category of compactifyable schemes over $S$. It is clear from the lemma just cited and our choice of multiplicative system that we obtain a functor $\mathcal{C}' \to \mathcal{D}$. This functor is clearly essentially surjective. If $f : X \to Y$ is a morphism of compactifyable schemes, then we choose an open immersion $Y \to \overline{Y}$ into a scheme proper over $S$, and then we choose an embedding $X \to \overline{X}$ into a scheme $\overline{X}$ proper over $\overline{Y}$ (possible by Lemma 38.32.2 applied to $X \to \overline{Y}$). This gives a morphism $(X, \overline{X}) \to (Y, \overline{Y})$ of compactifications which produces our given morphism $X \to Y$. Finally, suppose given a pair of morphisms in the localized category with the same source and target: say

$a = ((f, \overline{f}) : (X', \overline{X}') \to (Y, \overline{Y}), (u, \overline{u}) : (X', \overline{X}') \to (X, \overline{X}))$

and

$b = ((g, \overline{g}) : (X'', \overline{X}'') \to (Y, \overline{Y}), (v, \overline{v}) : (X'', \overline{X}'') \to (X, \overline{X}))$

which produce the same morphism $X \to Y$ over $S$, in other words $f \circ u^{-1} = g \circ v^{-1}$. By Categories, Lemma 4.27.13 we may assume that $(X', \overline{X}') = (X'', \overline{X}'')$ and $(u, \overline{u}) = (v, \overline{v})$. In this case we can consider the equalizer $\overline{X}''' \subset \overline{X}'$ of $\overline{f}$ and $\overline{g}$. The morphism $(w, \overline{w}) : (X', \overline{X}''') \to (X', \overline{X}')$ is in the multiplicative subset and we see that $a = b$ in the localized category by precomposing with $(w, \overline{w})$. $\square$

Comment #2064 by Hu Fei on

There are some typos before in the definition of the category of compactifications of $X$. It should be ...whose morphisms $(j' : X \to \overline{X}') \to (j : X \to \overline{X})$ are morphisms $f : \overline{X}' \to \overline{X}$ such that $f \circ j' = j$.'' Another thing: it seems thatcompactifyable scheme'' has not be exactly defined. I have to guess it means a scheme can be compactified. Although this is straightforward, but it would be better if give its definition after the definition of compactification. (I was checking duality theorem which involves the schemes of this kind).

Comment #2065 by Hu Fei on

There are some typos in the definition of the category of compactifications of $X$. It should be ...whose morphisms $(j' : X \to \overline{X}') \to (j : X \to \overline{X})$ are morphisms $f : \overline{X}' \to \overline{X}$ such that $f \circ j' = j$.'' Another thing: it seems thatcompactifyable scheme'' has not be exactly defined. I have to guess it means a scheme can be compactified. Although this is straightforward, but it would be better if give its definition after the definition of compactification. (I was checking duality theorem which involves the schemes of this kind). Is it compactifiable''?

Comment #2996 by Ko Aoki on

The second paragraph says "If X has a compactification over S, then X→S is separated and of finite type," but it seems to be incorrect without a qc assumption for $X \to \overline{X}$.

Comment #3119 by on

@#2996 Good catch! Indeed, we need to impose the condition that the morphism $X \to \overline{X}$ is a quasi-compact open immersion. I have done so now. See change.

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