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A variation on Ishai's example is a closed embedding: its sheaf of relative differentials is 0$0$, hence free of finite rank, even though it needn't be smooth.

However, k[e] / e^2$k[e] / e^2$ over k$k$ is not actually a counterexample (except in characteristic 2$2$). The module of relative differentials of Spec k[e] / e^2$\operatorname{Spec} k[e] / e^2$ over Spec k$\operatorname{Spec} k$ is not free if the characteristic of k$k$ is not 2$2$. Let A = k[e]$A = k[e]$ and B = k[e] / e^2$B = k[e] / e^2$. Then

Omega_B = Omega_A (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)

$$\Omega_B = \Omega_A (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)$$

via the isomorphism Omega_A --> A : dt --> 1$\Omega_A \to A : dt \to 1$. This is not isomorphic to B$B$ unless 2 = 0$2 = 0$.

On the other hand, you can conclude that B$B$ is smooth if its cotangent complex is a vector bundle in degree 0$0$. In the case of k[e] / e^2$k[e] / e^2$, the cotangent complex is

[ I_{B/A} / I_{B/A}^2 ---> Omega_A (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A ---> B de ]

$$ [ I_{B/A} / I_{B/A}^2 \to \Omega_A (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A \to B\ de ] $$

in degrees [-1,0]$[-1,0]$ and the differential is the universal derivation. (I write I_{B/A}$I_{B/A}$ for the ideal of B$B$ in A$A$.) Even in characteristic 2$2$, the differential has a kernel, so the cotangent complex is not concentrated in degree 0$0$.

A variation on Ishai's example is a closed embedding: its sheaf of relative differentials is 0, hence free of finite rank, even though it needn't be smooth.

However, k[e] / e^2 over k is not actually a counterexample (except in characteristic 2). The module of relative differentials of Spec k[e] / e^2 over Spec k is not free if the characteristic of k is not 2. Let A = k[e] and B = k[e] / e^2. Then

Omega_B = Omega_A (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)

via the isomorphism Omega_A --> A : dt --> 1. This is not isomorphic to B unless 2 = 0.

On the other hand, you can conclude that B is smooth if its cotangent complex is a vector bundle in degree 0. In the case of k[e] / e^2, the cotangent complex is

[ I_{B/A} / I_{B/A}^2 ---> Omega_A (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A ---> B de ]

in degrees [-1,0] and the differential is the universal derivation. (I write I_{B/A} for the ideal of B in A.) Even in characteristic 2, the differential has a kernel, so the cotangent complex is not concentrated in degree 0.

A variation on Ishai's example is a closed embedding: its sheaf of relative differentials is $0$, hence free of finite rank, even though it needn't be smooth.

However, $k[e] / e^2$ over $k$ is not actually a counterexample (except in characteristic $2$). The module of relative differentials of $\operatorname{Spec} k[e] / e^2$ over $\operatorname{Spec} k$ is not free if the characteristic of $k$ is not $2$. Let $A = k[e]$ and $B = k[e] / e^2$. Then

$$\Omega_B = \Omega_A (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)$$

via the isomorphism $\Omega_A \to A : dt \to 1$. This is not isomorphic to $B$ unless $2 = 0$.

On the other hand, you can conclude that $B$ is smooth if its cotangent complex is a vector bundle in degree $0$. In the case of $k[e] / e^2$, the cotangent complex is

$$ [ I_{B/A} / I_{B/A}^2 \to \Omega_A (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A \to B\ de ] $$

in degrees $[-1,0]$ and the differential is the universal derivation. (I write $I_{B/A}$ for the ideal of $B$ in $A$.) Even in characteristic $2$, the differential has a kernel, so the cotangent complex is not concentrated in degree $0$.

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Jonathan Wise
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A variation on Ishaii'sIshai's example is a closed embedding: its sheaf of relative differentials is 00, hence free of finite rank, even though it needn't be smooth.

However, k[e] / e^2k[e] / e^2 over kk is not actually a counterexample (except in characteristic 22). The module of relative differentials of Spec k[e] / e^2Spec k[e] / e^2 over Spec kSpec k is not free if the characteristic of kk is not 2. Let A = k[e]A = k[e] and B = k[e] / e^2B = k[e] / e^2. Then

Omega(B) = Omega(A) (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)

Omega_B = Omega_A (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)

via the isomorphism Omega(A) --> A : dt --> 1Omega_A --> A : dt --> 1. This is not isomorphic to BB unless 2 = 02 = 0.

On the other hand, you can conclude that BB is smooth if its cotangent complex is a vector bundle in degree 0. In the case of k[e] / e^2k[e] / e^2, the cotangent complex is

[ I(B/A) / I(B/A)^2 ---> Omega(A) (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A ---> B de ]

[ I_{B/A} / I_{B/A}^2 ---> Omega_A (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A ---> B de ]

in degrees [-1,0][-1,0] and the differential is the universal derivation. (I write I(B/A)I_{B/A} for the ideal of BB in AA.) Even in characteristic 22, the differential has a kernel, so the cotangent complex is not concentrated in degree 00.

A variation on Ishaii's example is a closed embedding: its sheaf of relative differentials is 0, hence free of finite rank, even though it needn't be smooth.

However, k[e] / e^2 over k is not actually a counterexample (except in characteristic 2). The module of relative differentials of Spec k[e] / e^2 over Spec k is not free if the characteristic of k is not 2. Let A = k[e] and B = k[e] / e^2. Then

Omega(B) = Omega(A) (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)

via the isomorphism Omega(A) --> A : dt --> 1. This is not isomorphic to B unless 2 = 0.

On the other hand, you can conclude that B is smooth if its cotangent complex is a vector bundle in degree 0. In the case of k[e] / e^2, the cotangent complex is

[ I(B/A) / I(B/A)^2 ---> Omega(A) (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A ---> B de ]

in degrees [-1,0] and the differential is the universal derivation. (I write I(B/A) for the ideal of B in A.) Even in characteristic 2, the differential has a kernel, so the cotangent complex is not concentrated in degree 0.

A variation on Ishai's example is a closed embedding: its sheaf of relative differentials is 0, hence free of finite rank, even though it needn't be smooth.

However, k[e] / e^2 over k is not actually a counterexample (except in characteristic 2). The module of relative differentials of Spec k[e] / e^2 over Spec k is not free if the characteristic of k is not 2. Let A = k[e] and B = k[e] / e^2. Then

Omega_B = Omega_A (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)

via the isomorphism Omega_A --> A : dt --> 1. This is not isomorphic to B unless 2 = 0.

On the other hand, you can conclude that B is smooth if its cotangent complex is a vector bundle in degree 0. In the case of k[e] / e^2, the cotangent complex is

[ I_{B/A} / I_{B/A}^2 ---> Omega_A (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A ---> B de ]

in degrees [-1,0] and the differential is the universal derivation. (I write I_{B/A} for the ideal of B in A.) Even in characteristic 2, the differential has a kernel, so the cotangent complex is not concentrated in degree 0.

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Jonathan Wise
  • 8k
  • 1
  • 47
  • 53

A variation on Ishaii's example is a closed embedding: its sheaf of relative differentials is 0, hence free of finite rank, even though it needn't be smooth.

However, k[e] / e^2 over k is not actually a counterexample (except in characteristic 2). The module of relative differentials of Spec k[e] / e^2 over Spec k is not free if the characteristic of k is not 2. Let A = k[e] and B = k[e] / e^2. Then

Omega(B) = Omega(A) (x) B / d(e^2) = k[e] / (e^2, 2e)

via the isomorphism Omega(A) --> A : dt --> 1. This is not isomorphic to B unless 2 = 0.

On the other hand, you can conclude that B is smooth if its cotangent complex is a vector bundle in degree 0. In the case of k[e] / e^2, the cotangent complex is

[ I(B/A) / I(B/A)^2 ---> Omega(A) (x) B ] = [ e^2 A / e^4 A ---> B de ]

in degrees [-1,0] and the differential is the universal derivation. (I write I(B/A) for the ideal of B in A.) Even in characteristic 2, the differential has a kernel, so the cotangent complex is not concentrated in degree 0.