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Let $X$ be a proper geometrically integral $\mathbb{F}_p$-scheme.

Assume that $X$ is the special fiber of a proper flat $\mathbb{Z}_p$-scheme with a smooth generic fiber and that for each point $x\in X$ we have $\dim_{\kappa (x)}(\Omega _{X/\mathbb{F}_p, x}\otimes_{\mathcal{O}_{X, x}} \kappa (x))\leq 1+\dim(X)$.

Is $X$ the special fiber of a regular proper flat $\mathbb{Z}_p$-scheme?

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    $\begingroup$ That is not true. If there is such a regular proper flat model, then the embedding dimension of $X$ is everywhere locally bounded by $1+\text{dim}(X)$. Now consider a reduced curve with embedding dimension $3$ and apply the Hilbert-Burch(-Schaps) theorem. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 30, 2020 at 21:19
  • $\begingroup$ I guess that the simplest explicit example is a curve $X$ in $\mathbb{P}^3$ that is the intersection of a quadric surface with a single ordinary double point $p$ and a cubic surface that has an ordinary double point at $p$ (and whose tangent cone is different from the first quadric surface). This curve has arithmetic genus $4$ and geometric genus $0$. It generizes to a smooth, canonically embedded curve of genus $4$ in $\mathbb{P}^3$. Yet the embedding dimension of the curve at $p$ equals $3$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 30, 2020 at 22:39
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    $\begingroup$ Another way this can fail is if $X$ (or equivalently the special fiber) is not Gorenstein. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 31, 2020 at 0:59
  • $\begingroup$ Edited in response to the comments. $\endgroup$
    – user158636
    Commented Jul 31, 2020 at 12:15
  • $\begingroup$ Actually the hypothesis beginning, "Assume that ...", implies that a reduced, pure-dimensional, finite type $k$-scheme is a local complete intersection. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 31, 2020 at 13:26

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Edit. The original post is likely wrong: it would be better to work with a $\mathfrak{g}^r_d$ that gives a closed immersion of $C$, but which is a singular point of $\mathcal{G}^r_d(C)$. The following example is easier conceptually to understand.

Let $k$ be a field, i.e., $\mathbb{F}_p$. Let $C$ be a $k$-curve of genus $g>2$. Let $J$ denote $\text{Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k}$, the Picard scheme parameterizing ideal sheaves on $C$ of degree $g-1$. Let $\Theta$ denote the Cartier divisor in $\text{Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k}$ parameterizing ideal sheaves $\mathcal{L}$ such that $H^1(C,\mathcal{L})$ is nonzero (by Serre duality, this is the same as nonzero $H^0$, but $H^1$ behaves better with respect to base change). This is an irreducible Cartier divisor that gives a principal polarization of $\text{Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k}$. By the Riemann Singularity Theorem, the singular locus of $\Theta$ has codimension $c$ at least $2$ in $\Theta$ (typically the codimension equals $3=4-1$, but hyperelliptic curves have singular locus of codimension $2$). The multiple $3\Theta$ is a very ample Cartier divisor. Consider subvarieties of dimension $c-1$ that are complete intersections of $\Theta$ and $g-1$ divisors in the linear system of $3\Theta$. A typical complete intersection in this family is smooth. Let $Z$ denote a member of the family that intersects the singular locus of $\Theta$.

Assume that there exists an invertible sheaf $\mathcal{A}$ of degree $g-2$ such that the induced Abel map has image that is not contained in $\Theta$ and that is disjoint from $Z$, $$\alpha_{\mathcal{A}}:C\to \text{Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k}, \ \ p \mapsto \mathcal{A}(\underline{p}).$$

Denote the blowing up of $\text{Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k}$ along the image of $\alpha_{\mathcal{A}}$ by, $$ \nu:\widetilde{Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k} \to {Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k}.$$ Denote the strict transform of $\Theta$ by $\widetilde{\Theta}$. Denote the strict transform of $Z$ by $\widetilde{Z}$.

Finally, let $X$ be the blowing up of $\widetilde{Pic}^{g-1}_{C/k}$ along the closed subscheme $\widetilde{Z}$. By varying the $Z$ to a complete intersection curve that is disjoint from the singular locus of $\Theta$, there are generizations / deformations of $X$ that are smooth. Moreover, on open affines of $X$, there are embeddings as hypersurfaces in a regular scheme. However, since the theta divisor is unique up to translation (and all translations are still singular), there is no global embedding of $X$ as the closed fiber of a regular, flat model over a DVR.

Original post (likely mistaken). I only have a few minutes, so I will try to fill in the details later. Let $C$ be a geometrically integral, at-worst-nodal curve of arithmetic genus $4$ embedded in $\mathbb{P}^3$ by the complete linear system of its dualizing (invertible) sheaf (in particular, $C$ is not hyperelliptic). Further assume that the unique quadric surface that contains $C$ is a cone over a smooth plane conic $P$. Thus, $C$ has a unique $\mathfrak{g}^1_3$, which has multiplicity $2$ in the scheme $\mathcal{G}^1_3(C)$. Finally, assume that $C$ has an ordinary double point at the vertex $p$ of the cone.

Now consider the blowing up of the cone at its vertex. The pullback of the Cartier divisor $C$ contains the exceptional divisor $E$ as an irreducible component of multiplicity $2$. Consider the curve $C'=\widetilde{C}+E$ such that the pullback equals $C'+E$, i.e., "subtract" one copy of $E$ from the pullback of $C$. The curve $C'$ is a prestable curve of arithmetic genus $4$. The morphism from $C'$ to $\mathbb{P}^3$ is an embedding on the strict transform $\widetilde{C}$. The projection from the vertex to the plane conic $P$ is a morphism from $C'$ to $P$ that restricts to an isomorphism on $E$. Together, these two morphisms define a closed immersion of $C'$ in $\mathbb{P}^3\times P$.

Finally, let $X$ be the blowing up of $\mathbb{P}^3\times P$ along the ideal sheaf of this closed immersion. This satisfies the local hypotheses. However, because the scheme $G^1_3(C)$ has multiplicity $2$, it turns out that there is no global regular scheme that contains $X$ as a Cartier divisor with trivial normal bundle (as would be the case for a regular scheme with a proper, flat morphism to a DVR whose special fiber equals $X$). On the other hand, it is straightforward to deform $C$ inside the singular quadric surface, and this gives a lift whose generic fiber is smooth (the blowing up of $\mathbb{P}^3\times P$ along the ideal sheaf of a closed immersion of a smooth, projective curve of genus $4$).

There are many details missing in the above, but the key point is that, even though $C$, and thus $C'$, deform "transversally" giving a regular scheme over $\mathbb{Z}_p$, the embedded deformations of $C'$ in $\mathbb{P}^3\times P$ are not formally smooth. Via blowing up, this gives rise to counterexamples.

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