The Stacks project

\begin{equation*} \DeclareMathOperator\Coim{Coim} \DeclareMathOperator\Coker{Coker} \DeclareMathOperator\Ext{Ext} \DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom} \DeclareMathOperator\Im{Im} \DeclareMathOperator\Ker{Ker} \DeclareMathOperator\Mor{Mor} \DeclareMathOperator\Ob{Ob} \DeclareMathOperator\Sh{Sh} \DeclareMathOperator\SheafExt{\mathcal{E}\mathit{xt}} \DeclareMathOperator\SheafHom{\mathcal{H}\mathit{om}} \DeclareMathOperator\Spec{Spec} \newcommand\colim{\mathop{\mathrm{colim}}\nolimits} \newcommand\lim{\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits} \newcommand\Qcoh{\mathit{Qcoh}} \newcommand\Sch{\mathit{Sch}} \newcommand\QCohstack{\mathcal{QC}\!\mathit{oh}} \newcommand\Cohstack{\mathcal{C}\!\mathit{oh}} \newcommand\Spacesstack{\mathcal{S}\!\mathit{paces}} \newcommand\Quotfunctor{\mathrm{Quot}} \newcommand\Hilbfunctor{\mathrm{Hilb}} \newcommand\Curvesstack{\mathcal{C}\!\mathit{urves}} \newcommand\Polarizedstack{\mathcal{P}\!\mathit{olarized}} \newcommand\Complexesstack{\mathcal{C}\!\mathit{omplexes}} \newcommand\Pic{\mathop{\mathrm{Pic}}\nolimits} \newcommand\Picardstack{\mathcal{P}\!\mathit{ic}} \newcommand\Picardfunctor{\mathrm{Pic}} \newcommand\Deformationcategory{\mathcal{D}\!\mathit{ef}} \end{equation*}

15.83 Derived completion for a principal ideal

In this section we discuss what happens with derived completion when the ideal is generated by a single element.

Lemma 15.83.1. Let $A$ be a ring. Let $f \in A$. If there exists an integer $c \geq 1$ such that $A[f^ c] = A[f^{c + 1}] = A[f^{c + 2}] = \ldots $ (for example if $A$ is Noetherian), then for all $n \geq 1$ there exist maps

\[ (A \xrightarrow {f^ n} A) \longrightarrow A/(f^ n), \quad \text{and}\quad A/(f^{n + c}) \longrightarrow (A \xrightarrow {f^ n} A) \]

in $D(A)$ inducing an isomorphism of the pro-objects $\{ A/(f^ n)\} $ and $\{ (f^ n : A \to A)\} $ in $D(A)$.

Proof. The first displayed arrow is obvious. We can define the second arrow of the lemma by the diagram

\[ \xymatrix{ A/A[f^ c] \ar[r]_-{f^{n + c}} \ar[d]_{f^ c} & A \ar[d]^1 \\ A \ar[r]^{f^ n} & A } \]

Since the top horizontal arrow is injective the complex in the top row is quasi-isomorphic to $A/f^{n + c}A$. We omit the calculation of compositions needed to show the statement on pro objects. $\square$

Lemma 15.83.2. Let $A$ be a ring and $f \in A$. Set $I = (f)$. In this situation we have the naive derived completion $K \mapsto K' = R\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits (K \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} A/f^ nA)$ and the derived completion

\[ K \mapsto K^\wedge = R\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits (K \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} (A \xrightarrow {f^ n} A)) \]

of Lemma 15.82.17. The natural transformation of functors $K^\wedge \to K'$ is an isomorphism if and only if the $f$-power torsion of $A$ is bounded.

Proof. If the $f$-power torsion is bounded, then the pro-objects $\{ (f^ n : A \to A)\} $ and $\{ A/f^ nA\} $ are isomorphic by Lemma 15.83.1. Hence the functors are isomorphic by Lemma 15.77.10. Conversely, we see from Lemma 15.78.11 that the condition is exactly that

\[ R\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits (K \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} A[f^ n]) \]

is zero for all $K \in D(A)$. Here the maps of the system $(A[f^ n])$ are given by multiplication by $f$. Taking $K = A$ and $K = \bigoplus _{i \in \mathbf{N}} A$ we see from Lemma 15.77.13 this implies $(A[f^ n])$ is zero as a pro-object, i.e., $f^{n - 1}A[f^ n] = 0$ for some $n$, i.e., $A[f^{n - 1}] = A[f^ n]$, i.e., the $f$-power torsion is bounded. $\square$

Example 15.83.3. Let $A$ be a ring. Let $f \in A$ be a nonzerodivisor. An example to keep in mind is $A = \mathbf{Z}_ p$ and $f = p$. Let $M$ be an $A$-module. Claim: $M$ is derived complete with respect to $f$ if and only if there exists a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to K \to L \to M \to 0 \]

where $K, L$ are $f$-adically complete modules whose $f$-torsion is zero. Namely, if there is a such a short exact sequence, then

\[ M \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} (A \xrightarrow {f^ n} A) = (K/f^ nK \to L/f^ nL) \]

because $f$ is a nonzerodivisor on $K$ and $L$ and we conclude that $R\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits (M \otimes _ A^\mathbf {L} (A \xrightarrow {f^ n} A))$ is quasi-isomorphic to $K \to L$, i.e., $M$. This shows that $M$ is derived complete by Lemma 15.82.16. Conversely, suppose that $M$ is derived complete. Choose a surjection $F \to M$ where $F$ is a free $A$-module. Since $f$ is a nonzerodivisor on $F$ the derived completion of $F$ is $L = \mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits F/f^ nF$. Note that $L$ is $f$-torsion free: if $(x_ n)$ with $x_ n \in F$ represents an element $\xi $ of $L$ and $f\xi = 0$, then $x_ n = x_{n + 1} + f^ nz_ n$ and $fx_ n = f^ ny_ n$ for some $z_ n, y_ n \in F$. Then $f^ n y_ n = fx_ n = fx_{n + 1} + f^{n + 1}z_ n = f^{n + 1}y_{n + 1} + f^{n + 1}z_ n$ and since $f$ is a nonzerodivisor on $F$ we see that $y_ n \in fF$ which implies that $x_ n \in f^ nF$, i.e., $\xi = 0$. Since $L$ is the derived completion, the universal property gives a map $L \to M$ factoring $F \to M$. Let $K = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(L \to M)$ be the kernel. Again $K$ is $f$-torsion free, hence the derived completion of $K$ is $\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits K/f^ nK$. On the other hand, both $M$ and $L$ are derived complete, hence $K$ is too by Lemma 15.82.6. It follows that $K = \mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits K/f^ nK$ and the claim is proved.

Example 15.83.4. Let $A$ be a ring and let $f \in A$. Denote $K \mapsto K^\wedge $ the derived completion with respect to $(f)$. Let $M$ be an $A$-module. Using that

\[ M^\wedge = R\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits (M \xrightarrow {f^ n} M) \]

by Lemma 15.82.17 and using Lemma 15.78.4 we obtain

\[ H^{-1}(M^\wedge ) = \mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits M[f^ n] = T_ f(M) \]

the $f$-adic Tate module of $M$. Here the maps $M[f^ n] \to M[f^{n - 1}]$ are given by multiplication by $f$. Then there is a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to R^1\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits M[f^ n] \to H^0(M^\wedge ) \to \mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits M/f^ n M \to 0 \]

describing $H^0(M^\wedge )$. We have $H^1(M^\wedge ) = R^1\mathop{\mathrm{lim}}\nolimits M/f^ nM = 0$ as the transition maps are surjective (Lemma 15.78.1). All the other cohomologies of $M^\wedge $ are zero for trivial reasons. We claim that for $K \in D(A)$ there are short exact sequences

\[ 0 \to H^0(H^ n(K)^\wedge ) \to H^ n(K^\wedge ) \to T_ f(H^{n + 1}(K)) \to 0 \]

Namely this follows from the spectral sequence of Example 15.82.20 because it degenerates at $E_2$ (as only $i = -1, 0$ give nonzero terms).

Lemma 15.83.5 (Bhatt). Let $I$ be a finitely generated ideal in a ring $A$. Let $M$ be a derived complete $A$-module. If $M$ is an $I$-power torsion module, then $I^ nM = 0$ for some $n$.

Proof. Say $I = (f_1, \ldots , f_ r)$. It suffices to show that for each $i$ there is an $n_ i$ such that $f_ i^{n_ i}M = 0$. Hence we may assume that $I = (f)$ is a principal ideal. Let $B = \mathbf{Z}[x] \to A$ be the ring map sending $x$ to $f$. By Lemma 15.82.21 we see that $M$ is derived complete as a $B$-module with respect to the ideal $(x)$. After replacing $A$ by $B$, we may assume that $f$ is a nonzerodivisor in $A$.

Assume $I = (f)$ with $f \in A$ a nonzerodivisor. According to Example 15.83.3 there exists a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to K \xrightarrow {u} L \to M \to 0 \]

where $K$ and $L$ are $I$-adically complete $A$-modules whose $f$-torsion is zero1. Consider $K$ and $L$ as topological modules with the $I$-adic topology. Then $u$ is continuous. Let

\[ L_ n = \{ x \in L \mid f^ n x \in u(K)\} \]

Since $M$ is $f$-power torsion we see that $L = \bigcup L_ n$. Let $N_ n$ be the closure of $L_ n$ in $L$. By Lemma 15.35.4 we see that $N_ n$ is open in $L$ for some $n$. Fix such an $n$. Since $f^{n + m} : L \to L$ is a continuous open map, and since $f^{n + m} L_ n \subset u(f^ m K)$ we conclude that the closure of $u(f^ mK)$ is open for all $m \geq 1$. Thus by Lemma 15.35.5 we conclude that $u$ is open. Hence $f^ tL \subset \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(u)$ for some $t$ and we conclude that $f^ t$ annihilates $M$ as desired. $\square$

[1] For the proof it is enough to show that there exists a sequence $K \xrightarrow {u} L \to M \to 0$ where $K$ and $L$ are $I$-adically complete $A$-modules. This can be shown by choosing a presentation $F_1 \to F_0 \to M \to 0$ with $F_ i$ free and then setting $K$ and $L$ equal to the $f$-adic completions of $F_1$ and $F_0$. Namely, as $f$ is a nonzerodivisor these completions will be the derived completions and the sequence will remain exact.

Comments (0)

Post a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked.

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).

Unfortunately JavaScript is disabled in your browser, so the comment preview function will not work.

All contributions are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.




In order to prevent bots from posting comments, we would like you to prove that you are human. You can do this by filling in the name of the current tag in the following input field. As a reminder, this is tag 0BKF. Beware of the difference between the letter 'O' and the digit '0'.



View Section 15.83 as pdf