Lemma 100.41.3. Let $f : \mathcal{X} \to \mathcal{Y}$ be a morphism of algebraic stacks. If $f$ is separated, then $f$ satisfies the uniqueness part of the valuative criterion.

Proof. Since $f$ is separated we see that all categories of dotted arrows are setoids by Lemma 100.39.2. Consider a diagram

$\xymatrix{ \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(K) \ar[r]_-x \ar[d]_ j & \mathcal{X} \ar[d]^ f \\ \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(A) \ar[r]^-y \ar@{..>}[ru] & \mathcal{Y} }$

and a $2$-morphism $\gamma : y \circ j \to f \circ x$ as in Definition 100.39.1. Consider two objects $(a, \alpha , \beta )$ and $(a', \beta ', \alpha ')$ of the category of dotted arrows. To finish the proof we have to show these objects are isomorphic. The isomorphism

$f \circ a \xrightarrow {\beta ^{-1}} y \xrightarrow {\beta '} f \circ a'$

means that $(a, a', \beta ' \circ \beta ^{-1})$ is a morphism $\mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(A) \to \mathcal{X} \times _\mathcal {Y} \mathcal{X}$. On the other hand, $\alpha$ and $\alpha '$ define a $2$-arrow

$(a, a', \beta ' \circ \beta ^{-1}) \circ j = (a \circ j, a' \circ j, (\beta ' \star \text{id}_ j) \circ (\beta \star \text{id}_ j)^{-1}) \xrightarrow {(\alpha , \alpha ')} (x, x, \text{id}) = \Delta _ f \circ x$

Here we use that both $(a, \alpha , \beta )$ and $(a', \alpha ', \beta ')$ are dotted arrows with respect to $\gamma$. We obtain a commutative diagram

$\xymatrix{ \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(K) \ar[d]_ j \ar[rr]_ x & & \mathcal{X} \ar[d]^{\Delta _ f} \\ \mathop{\mathrm{Spec}}(A) \ar[rr]^{(a, a', \beta ' \circ \beta ^{-1})} & & \mathcal{X} \times _\mathcal {Y} \mathcal{X} }$

with $2$-commutativity witnessed by $(\alpha , \alpha ')$. Now $\Delta _ f$ is representable by algebraic spaces (Lemma 100.3.3) and proper as $f$ is separated. Hence by Lemma 100.39.13 and the valuative criterion for properness for algebraic spaces (Morphisms of Spaces, Lemma 66.44.1) we see that there exists a dotted arrow. Unwinding the construction, we see that this means $(a, \alpha , \beta )$ and $(a', \alpha ', \beta ')$ are isomorphic in the category of dotted arrows as desired. $\square$

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