Questions tagged [flatness]

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13 votes
4 answers
2k views

Does smoothness descend along flat morphisms?

Suppose $f:X\to Y$ is a flat morphism of schemes. If $X$ is smooth at $x$, must $Y$ be smooth at $f(x)$? If $f$ is locally finitely presented, then it is open (using EGA IV 1.10.4), so after ...
2 votes
0 answers
184 views

Proposition 4.3.8 Qing Liu about flat morphisms of schemes

I have a problem with a detail of Qing Liu's proof of Proposition 4.3.8 (pag. 137 of "Algebraic Geometry and Arithmetic Curves"). The statement is: Let $Y$ be a scheme having only a finite ...
8 votes
2 answers
480 views

Faithful flatness and non-commutative algebras

$\DeclareMathOperator\Spec{Spec}$When dealing with commutative algebras, a usefull criterion for faithful flatness is the following: Let $f:A\rightarrow B$ be a morphism of commutative algebras. Then $...
1 vote
0 answers
133 views

When flat base change is reduced

I am sorry, if this a very standard fact. Let $f\colon X\to S$ be a morphism between varieties over field of characteristic zero. Let $\psi \colon S'\to S$ be a flat morphism. Is it true that $X\...
27 votes
5 answers
9k views

Can a quotient ring R/J ever be flat over R?

If $R$ is a ring and $J\subset R$ is an ideal, can $R/J$ ever be a flat $R$-module? For algebraic geometers, the question is "can a closed immersion ever be flat?" The answer is yes: take $J=...
3 votes
1 answer
228 views

Flatness of certain subrings

The following question appears, more or less, here: Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero and let $S$ be a commutative $k$-algebra (I do not mind to further assume that $S$ ...
3 votes
1 answer
180 views

Flatness over regular local rings of dimension 3

Let $R$ be a regular local ring of dimension $n$. Let $i:\text{Flat}\to\text{Fin}$ be the fully faithful inclusion of the category of flat finitely generated type $R$-modules into all finitely ...
1 vote
0 answers
179 views

Can we check smoothness of a morphism after base change to the algebraic closure?

I know that smoothness is fppf local on the base, but this is not enough because taking algebraic closures is not finitely presented. The reason I'm asking this is because I want an easy/quick ...
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Why did Ravenel define a ring spectrum to be flat if its smash-square splits into copies of itself?

In appendix A.2 of the orange book, Ravenel defines a ring spectrum $E$ to be flat if $E\wedge E$ is equivalent to a coproduct of suspensions of $E$. (Call this definition (1).) I've seen this ...
6 votes
0 answers
218 views

Flatness of objects in a prestable $\infty$-category

I wonder what is the correct concept of flatness of objects in a prestable $\infty$-category with appropriate conditions? The typical example is the following. Let $R$ be a connective $\mathbb E_1$-...
0 votes
1 answer
103 views

On $\text{depth}_S\left(\dfrac {S}{JS+xS}\right)$, when $\text{depth}_R(R/J)=0$, and $R\to S$ is a certain flat map of local rings

Let $(R, \mathfrak m) \xrightarrow{\phi} (S,\mathfrak n) $ be a flat homomorphism of local rings such that $\mathfrak n=\mathfrak m S +xS$ for some $x\in \mathfrak n \setminus \mathfrak n^2$. Let $J$ ...
2 votes
0 answers
121 views

Flatness and locally freeness

Let $X$, $S$ be integral quasi-projective schemes (over $\Bbb C$). Let $\mathcal F$ be a coherent sheaf on $X\times S$, flat on $S$. Suppose that $x\in X$, $s\in S$ are closed points, and ${\mathcal F}...
3 votes
1 answer
556 views

Alternative module-theoretic characterization of flatness

Let $A \to B$ be a homomorphism of commutative rings. I would like to find a criterion for the flatness of $A \to B$ which does not involve the notion of kernels; it should rather involve cokernels. ...
4 votes
4 answers
3k views

Subtle examples of morphisms that are finite but not flat

Let $R$ be a ring (commutative noetherian with unit), and let $K(R)$ be its total ring of fractions (obtained by inverting all nonzerodivisors). Thus, $R \hookrightarrow K(R)$. Let $a \in K(R)$ be ...
1 vote
1 answer
103 views

Subrings, submodules, and flatness

Let $R$ be a ring, and $S$ a subring of $R$. Let $M$ be a right $R$-module, and $N$ a right $S$-submodule of $M$. If $N$ is flat (or faithfully flat) as a right $S$-module, does it then follow that ...
3 votes
1 answer
276 views

Does miracle flatness always fail for a non-regular base?

In [1], Huybrechts and Mauri argue that a holomorphic Lagrangian fibration $f: X \to B$ with smooth base $B$ is flat. This is an application of so called miracle flatness [2, Thm 23.1], because ...
1 vote
0 answers
195 views

Ex 1.1c Hartshorne Deformation Theory: Is this family flat?

This comes from my attempt to solve Exercise 1.1c in Hartshorne's Deformation Theory book, which says that a family of conics in $\mathbb{P}^2$ parameterised by some finitely generated $k$-algebra $A$ ...
6 votes
1 answer
424 views

Flatness of schemes

I am learning about flatness for the first time and I cannot wrap my head around why the definition with tensor products of a flat module implies geometrically that 1-parameter families of schemes ...
3 votes
1 answer
258 views

When is a sheaf $\mathcal{L}_1 \subset \mathcal{F} \subset \mathcal{L}_2$ sandwiched between two line bundles also a line bundle?

This question is in the interest of answering one part of this question, but I think it is distinct enough to warrant a separate question. Let $X$ be a regular 2-dimensional Noetherian scheme, for ...
3 votes
1 answer
258 views

Is local freeness open for curves?

Let $X$ be a complete nonsingular curve and $S$ a scheme over $k$ algebraically closed, and $\cal{F}$ a coherent sheaf on $X \times S$, generated by finitely many global sections and flat over $S$ (...
7 votes
2 answers
589 views

Is $(x^2y,xy^2)$ log smooth?

Consider the map $$f:\mathbb C^2\to\mathbb C^2$$ $$(x,y)\mapsto(x^2y,xy^2)$$ We can view $f$ as induced by the map of monoids $g:\mathbb Z^2_{\geq 0}\to\mathbb Z^2_{\geq 0}$ given by the matrix $(\...
4 votes
0 answers
347 views

A projective module over a domain that is not faithfully flat?

Let $R$ be a (noncommutative) unital ring which is a domain and let $\mathcal{N}$ be a non-zero projective (right) module. Projectivity of course implies that $\mathcal{N}$ is flat, but does the fact ...
3 votes
1 answer
330 views

When do generizations ("generalizations") lift uniquely?

If $f : X \to Y$ is proper, then specializations lift along $f$, and uniquely. (This means, if $R$ is a discrete valuation ring with fraction field $K$ and I choose a factorization $\text{Spec}K \to ...
1 vote
0 answers
112 views

Composition of faithfully flat ring extensions

Let $R$ be a not necessarily commutative, unital, ring, and for simplicity let module always mean right module. We say that a unital ring extension $R \hookrightarrow S$ is flat, or faithfully flat, ...
3 votes
1 answer
241 views

Faithful flatness for rings

Let $R$ be a ring and let $M$ be a right module over $R$. We say that $M$ is faithfully flat as a right module if the functor $M \otimes_R -$ from left $R$-modules to abelian groups that preserves ...
4 votes
0 answers
252 views

Is there a notion of „flatness” in point-set topology?

In algebraic geometry, flat morphisms are usually associated with the intuition that they have „continuously varying fibers”. Is there a notion in topology formalizing the same intuition? Consider for ...
3 votes
1 answer
507 views

Finitely generated modules over Noetherian local ring that become isomorphic after faithfully flat base change

Let $(R,\mathfrak m)$ be a Noetherian local ring. Let $S$ be a Noetherian ring which is a faithfully flat $R$-algebra. If $M,N$ are finitely generated $R$-modules such that $M\otimes_R S \cong N \...
1 vote
1 answer
196 views

Flatness criterion for $I$-adic ring: $I$-torsion free

Let $R$ be an $I$-adically separated and complete valuation ring, with $I$ finitely generated. It is used a few times in Bosch, Lectures on Formal and Rigid Geometry e.g. first lines of pg. 164, Cor. ...
0 votes
0 answers
267 views

Flatness of affine cone due to semicontinuity theorem

I would like to clarify an important aspect from the discussion in this question. The OP discussed an obstacle to solve part (c) from Exercise 9.5 from Hartshorne's Algebraic Geometry Chap. III page ...
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Flatness of maps of analytic rings

Reference: Lectures on Analytic Geometry Let $f\colon(\mathcal A,\mathcal M)\to(\mathcal B,\mathcal N)$ be a map of analytic ring. There are several possible ways to pose the flatness: Flatness as ...
1 vote
0 answers
320 views

Flatness over a local noetherian ring

Let $(R,\mathfrak m)$ be a local noetherian ring, and $M$ an arbitrary $R$-module. Suppose that $\mathrm{Tor}_1(M,R/\mathfrak m)=0$. Does it follow that $M$ is flat? The answer is positive when $M$ ...
1 vote
0 answers
71 views

Faithfull flatness of a module containing the ring as a direct summand

Let $R$ be a not necessarily commutative ring, and let $M$ be a projective left $R$-module. Question. If $R$ is a direct summand of $M$ as a left $R$-module, then is it true that $M$ is faithfully ...
1 vote
0 answers
181 views

Is the following local map unramified?

Let $(R,m)$ and $(S,n)$ be two local rings, $R \subseteq S$, $R$ regular, $S$ a finitely generated and flat $R$-algebra, and $mS=n$. In comments to this question it was claimed that in such situation ...
1 vote
0 answers
111 views

$A \to B$ with $A$ regular imply that $B$ is CM

The answer to this question says the following: "The general statement is if $A \to B$ is finite and injective, and $A$ is noetherian and regular, then $B$ is CM if and only if $A \to B$ is flat. ...
1 vote
1 answer
243 views

Flat and algebraic (non-integral) local rings extension $R \subseteq S$ with $m_RS=m_S$

Let $R \subseteq S$ be two Noetherian local rings, not necessarily regular, which are integral domains, with $m_RS=m_S$, namely, the ideal in $S$ generated by $m_R$ (= the maximal ideal of $R$) is $...
0 votes
0 answers
171 views

When $K[X_1,X_2,...,X_n] \to K[Y_1,Y_2,...,Y_m]$ is a flat morphism

Let $K$ be a field and $\varphi: K[X_1,X_2,...,X_n] \to K[Y_1,Y_2,...,Y_m]$ a polynomial $K$-algebra morphism. Assume $n, m \ge 2$. By definition $\varphi$ endows $K[Y_1,Y_2,...,Y_m]$ with a $K[X_1,...
3 votes
0 answers
148 views

Flatness of certain $R \subseteq \mathbb{C}[x,y]$

The two-dimensional Jacobian Conjecture over $\mathbb{C}$ says the following: Let $p,q \in \mathbb{C}[x,y]$ satisfy $\operatorname{Jac}(p,q):=p_xq_y-p_yq_x \in \mathbb{C}-\{0\}$. Then $\mathbb{C}[p,q]=...
10 votes
0 answers
497 views

How general are Gröbner degenerations?

While working with flat degenerations of flag varieties and Schubert varieties I've noticed that among the numerous known constructions there doesn't seem to be a single one that doesn't turn out to ...
1 vote
1 answer
319 views

Flat familiy of coherent sheaves over a scheme

I'm studying the moduli problem of locally free sheaves over a connected smooth projective curve on an algebraically closed field, from the Lecture Notes of Victoria Hoskins, and I cannot fully ...
0 votes
1 answer
425 views

Separability of $\mathbb{C}[x]$ over its $\mathbb{C}$-subalgebras

For commutative rings $R \subseteq S$, recall that $S$ is separable over $R$, if $S$ is a projective $S \otimes_R S$-module, via $f: S \otimes_R S \to S$ given by: $f(s_1 \otimes_R s_2)=s_1s_2$. ...
3 votes
1 answer
332 views

flatness and reduction

Let $\mathcal J$ be an ideal sheaf on a (Noetherian) $Y$-scheme $X$, and let $\mathcal I$ be the unique primary ideal in a primary decomposition $\mathcal J$ corresponding to a minimal associated ...
0 votes
1 answer
203 views

Separable non-flat simple ring extension

Let $R \subseteq S$ be two commutative $\mathbb{C}$-algebras such that: (1) $R$ and $S$ are integral domains. (2) $Q(R)=Q(S)$, namely, their fields of fractions are equal. (3) $S=R[w]$, for some $w \...
1 vote
0 answers
133 views

Projection from closure of locally closed subscheme is Etale

Let $S$ an arbitrary scheme and denote by $\Delta: S \to S \times S$ the diagonal immersion and $p_i: S \times S \to S$ the both projections to first resp second factor. (in following we will wlog ...
5 votes
0 answers
212 views

Interpolating between curves in different characteristics

Let $p\neq q$ be two primes. For a given integer $g>0$ choose a smooth proper geometrically connected curve of genus $g$ over $\mathbb{F}_p$ and similarly for $q$. Is there a proper flat morphism $...
0 votes
0 answers
88 views

Locally freeness of twisted direct images $\pi_* \mathcal{F}(i)$

I have a question about a step in the proof of the Existence of Flattening Stratification I found in Nitsure's paper here: https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0504590 This question is closely related to Local ...
4 votes
1 answer
281 views

Yoga on coherent flat sheaves $\mathcal{F}$ over projective space $\mathbb{P}^n$

I'm reading Mumfords's Lectures on Curves on an Algebraic Surface (jstor-link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1b9x2g3) and I found in Lecture 7 (RESUME OF THE COHOMOLOGY OF COHERENT SHEAVES ON $\...
1 vote
0 answers
121 views

Local freeness of $\pi_*F(r)$ from flatness of $F$

In 'Fundamental Algebraic Geometry' by Fantechi there is a lemma in section 5.3.2, page 119: LEMMA 5.5 Let $S$ be a noetherian scheme and let $F$ be a coherent sheaf on $\mathbb{P}^n_S$. Suppose there ...
3 votes
1 answer
436 views

Proper and flat over $\mathbb{P}^1_{\mathbb{Z}}$ implies locally free

Let $\pi:X\to \mathbb{P}^1_{\mathbb{Z}}$ be a proper flat morphism with $X$ an integral scheme. Is $\pi_*\mathcal{O}_X$ necessarily locally free?
8 votes
1 answer
417 views

Does a flat compactification always exist?

Let $\pi:X\to S$ be a separated flat morphism of finite type of Noetherian schemes. Does $\pi$ necessarily factor as an open immersion followed by a proper flat morphism? The analogue of this question ...
3 votes
1 answer
200 views

Faithful flatness of left adjoint to almostification of algebras

I have been reading Bhatt's notes on perfectoid spaces and I have stumbled upon a fact whose proof I am unable to understand. Specifically, in Remark 4.2.8 Bhatt describes the functor $A\mapsto A_{!!}$...