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Karl Schwede
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Can't we base-change $f : X \to Y$ with $Z$ and obtain: $g : f^{-1}(Z) \to Z$? This also is a universal homeomorphism by construction, right? So now we have a universal homeomorphism to a regular scheme, but a regular scheme is weakly normal, see A. Andreotti and E. Bombieri, ``Sugli omeomorfismi delle varietà algebriche''.

Therefore $g$ is an isomorphism at least as long as $f^{-1}(Z)$ is reduced.

EDIT: My argument that $f^{-1}(Z)$ was reduced was junk. I shouldn't have tried to do math while on the run. But as long as $f^{-1}(Z)$ is reduced, then I think things are ok.

Karl Schwede
  • 20.5k
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  • 98