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HeinrichD
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If $G$ is a commutative monoid, then $A[G]$-comodules identify with $G$-graded $A$-modules. A reference is Demazure, Gabriel, Introduction to Algebraic Geometry and Algebraic Groups, II, §2, no 2, Example 1. Given a coaction $\mu: M \to M [G]$ the corresponding grading $M = \bigoplus_{g \in G} M_g$ is given by $M_g = \{m \in M : \mu(m)=m g\}$. This correspondence is actually an equivalence of symmetric monoidal categories. Hence, $A[G]$-comodule commutative algebras identify with $G$-graded commutative $A$-algebras.

Now assume that $R \to R[\mathbb{Z}] = R[x,x^{-1}]$ is a comodule commutative algebra. The corresponding $\mathbb{G}_m$-scheme $\mathrm{Spec}(R)$ is a torsor if and only if

  • $R$ is faithfully flat over $A$,
  • The natural morphism $\mathrm{Spec}(R)/\mathbb{G_m} \to \mathrm{Spec}(A)$ is an isomorphism, i.e. the natural morphism $A \to R_0$ is an isomorphism,
  • The natural morphism $\mathbb{G}_m \times_{\mathrm{Spec}(A)} \mathrm{Spec}(R) \to \mathrm{Spec}(R) \times_{\mathrm{Spec}(A)} \mathrm{Spec}(R)$ is an isomorphism, i.e. the natural morphism $R \otimes_R R \to R[x,x^{-1}]$ is an isomorphism.

For $n,m \in \mathbb{Z}$ the natural morphism $R_n \otimes_A R_m \to R_{n+m}$ is an isomorphism since this is so when we tensor with $R$ over $A$. It follows that $R_1$ is invertible and that $R_n \cong R_1^{\otimes n}$ for $n \in \mathbb{Z}$.

HeinrichD
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