The Stacks project

101.30 The topological space of an algebraic stack

In this section we apply the previous results to the topological space $|\mathcal{X}|$ associated to an algebraic stack.

Lemma 101.30.1. Let $\mathcal{X}$ be a quasi-compact algebraic stack whose diagonal $\Delta $ is quasi-compact. Then $|\mathcal{X}|$ is a spectral topological space.

Proof. Choose an affine scheme $U$ and a surjective smooth morphism $U \to \mathcal{X}$, see Properties of Stacks, Lemma 100.6.2. Then $|U| \to |\mathcal{X}|$ is continuous, open, and surjective, see Properties of Stacks, Lemma 100.4.7. Hence the quasi-compact opens of $|\mathcal{X}|$ form a basis for the topology. For $W_1, W_2 \subset |\mathcal{X}|$ quasi-compact open, we may choose a quasi-compact opens $V_1, V_2$ of $U$ mapping to $W_1$ and $W_2$. Since $\Delta $ is quasi-compact, we see that

\[ V_1 \times _\mathcal {X} V_2 = (V_1 \times V_2) \times _{\mathcal{X} \times \mathcal{X}, \Delta } \mathcal{X} \]

is quasi-compact. Then image of $|V_1 \times _\mathcal {X} V_2|$ in $|\mathcal{X}|$ is $W_1 \cap W_2$ by Properties of Stacks, Lemma 100.4.3. Thus $W_1 \cap W_2$ is quasi-compact. To finish the proof, it suffices to show that $|\mathcal{X}|$ is sober, see Topology, Definition 5.23.1.

Let $T \subset |\mathcal{X}|$ be an irreducible closed subset. We have to show $T$ has a unique generic point. Let $\mathcal{Z} \subset \mathcal{X}$ be the reduced induced closed substack corresponding to $T$, see Properties of Stacks, Definition 100.10.4. Since $\mathcal{Z} \to \mathcal{X}$ is a closed immersion, we see that $\Delta _\mathcal {Z}$ is quasi-compact: first show that $\mathcal{Z} \to \mathcal{X} \times \mathcal{X}$ is quasi-compact as the composition of $\mathcal{Z} \to \mathcal{X}$ with $\Delta $, then write $\mathcal{Z} \to \mathcal{X} \times \mathcal{X}$ as the composition of $\Delta _\mathcal {Z}$ and $\mathcal{Z} \times \mathcal{Z} \to \mathcal{X} \times \mathcal{X}$ and use Lemma 101.7.7 and the fact that $\mathcal{Z} \times \mathcal{Z} \to \mathcal{X} \times \mathcal{X}$ is separated. Thus we reduce to the case discussed in the next paragraph.

Assume $\mathcal{X}$ is quasi-compact, $\Delta $ is quasi-compact, $\mathcal{X}$ is reduced, and $|\mathcal{X}|$ irreducible. We have to show $|\mathcal{X}|$ has a unique generic point. Since $\mathcal{I}_\mathcal {X} \to \mathcal{X}$ is a base change of $\Delta $, we see that $\mathcal{I}_\mathcal {X} \to \mathcal{X}$ is quasi-compact (Lemma 101.7.3). Thus there exists a dense open substack $\mathcal{U} \subset \mathcal{X}$ which is a gerbe by Proposition 101.29.1. In other words, $|\mathcal{U}| \subset |\mathcal{X}|$ is open dense. Thus we may assume that $\mathcal{X}$ is a gerbe. Say $\mathcal{X} \to X$ turns $\mathcal{X}$ into a gerbe over the algebraic space $X$. Then $|\mathcal{X}| \cong |X|$ by Lemma 101.28.13. In particular, $X$ is quasi-compact. By Lemma 101.28.14 we see that $X$ has quasi-compact diagonal, i.e., $X$ is a quasi-separated algebraic space. Then $|X|$ is spectral by Properties of Spaces, Lemma 66.15.2 which implies what we want is true. $\square$

Lemma 101.30.2. Let $\mathcal{X}$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated algebraic stack. Then $|\mathcal{X}|$ is a spectral topological space.

Proof. This is a special case of Lemma 101.30.1. $\square$

Lemma 101.30.3. Let $\mathcal{X}$ be an algebraic stack whose diagonal is quasi-compact (for example if $\mathcal{X}$ is quasi-separated). Then there is an open covering $|\mathcal{X}| = \bigcup U_ i$ with $U_ i$ spectral. In particular $|\mathcal{X}|$ is a sober topological space.

Proof. Immediate consequence of Lemma 101.30.1. $\square$


Comments (2)

Comment #2525 by Matthew Emerton on

In the last line of the statement of the lemma, there is an absolute value bar missing on the right in .


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 0DQM. Beware of the difference between the letter 'O' and the digit '0'.