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For a length-$r$ homogeneous regular sequence of positive degrees in ${\mathbb{P}}_k^N$, with $r<N$, the global regular functions on its projective complete intersection are exactly $k$. In the successive restriction sequences, intermediate cohomology vanishing for a projective complete intersection makes the first-cohomology group on the preceding stage zero. Inductively all negative twists have zero global sections, so at twist zero the restriction of constants is an isomorphism. The positive-dimension assumption is essential: a zero-dimensional complete intersection can have more global functions, including nilpotents.

An algebraic curve which is projective, reduced and irreducible. Over an algebraically closed field, its only global regular functions are constants and its arithmetic genus is $h^1({\mathcal{O}}_C)\ge 0$.

The printed vanishing claim needs the restriction $i\ge 1$. On $C={\mathbb{P}}^1$ with $\mathcal{F}=\mathcal{O}$ and $D=n\{\infty \}$, Question 3 gives $h^0(\mathcal{F}(D))=n+1$ for every $n\ge 0$. Thus no bound on the degree of a divisor can force vanishing in degree zero. We prove finiteness in every degree and the corrected vanishing in every positive degree, uniformly over all divisors on an algebraic curve of large degree.

First take a finite morphism $\pi :C\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$ as in Question 3 and put $E={\pi }_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$. The direct image sheaf $E$ is coherent: on an affine chart its module is finitely generated over a finite algebra and hence over the chart's coordinate ring. The two affine-cover Čech cochain complexes for $\mathcal{F}$ on $C$ and for $E$ on ${\mathbb{P}}^1$ are identical. Therefore

We need an elementary presentation of any coherent sheaf $E$ on the projective line. Choose finitely many generators on each of its two standard affine charts. A generator on the first chart restricts to an element of the second chart's module localized at $t^{-1}$. Multiplication by a sufficiently large power of $t^{-1}$ brings that element into the second chart's module. Since the transition of $\mathcal{O}(n)$ is $t^n$, this makes the original generator extend to a global section of $E(n)$. A generator on the second chart similarly extends after clearing its denominator at $t=0$. Use one common exponent for all the finitely many generators. The extended sections generate $E(n)$ on both charts. Untwisting gives a surjectionwith coherent kernel $K$. The long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology and Question 3 show that $H^1(E)$ is a quotient of the finite-dimensional $H^1(P)$, since $H^2(K)=0$. Apply the same presentation argument to $K$ to obtain finiteness of $H^1(K)$. Then the segment $H^0(P)\to H^0(E)\to H^1(K)$ proves finiteness of $H^0(E)$. Higher groups vanish by Question 3. Hence every $H^i(C,\mathcal{F})$ is finite-dimensional.

Next establish a useful degree estimate without using the duality requested later. A global regular function on $C$ is constant: a nonconstant one would give a finite morphism $C\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$ by Question 1. Such a morphism is surjective, because its closed image contains the generic point, but a regular function misses $\infty$, a contradiction. Thus $H^0(C,{\mathcal{O}}_C)=k$. Write $g=h^1(C,{\mathcal{O}}_C)$, the genus of a smooth projective curve. For any divisor on an algebraic curve $A$ and point $P$, the local discrete valuation ring givesThe last term is a length-one skyscraper sheaf. Additivity of the Euler characteristic of a coherent sheaf and repeated addition or subtraction of points giveThe inequality follows because $h^1$ is nonnegative, and is sufficient for the following argument.

Fix $P\in C$. For $n\ge g+1$ this estimate gives at least two independent sections of ${\mathcal{O}}_C(nP)$, one of them the constant section. A nonconstant section is a rational function on an algebraic variety whose poles are confined to $P$. It must have a pole there, since a globally regular function is constant. Its extension $C\to {\mathbb{P}}^1$ is finite, and its inverse image of ${\mathbb{A}}^1$ is exactly $C\setminus \{P\}$. Consequently $U=C\setminus \{P\}$ is affine.

Let $T$ be the torsion subsheaf of $\mathcal{F}$ and let $V=\mathcal{F}/T$. The support of $T$ is finite; such a coherent sheaf is a finite direct sum of sheaves supported at points and has zero higher sheaf cohomology. The torsion-free sheaf $V$ is locally free: a finitely generated torsion-free module over a discrete valuation ring is free. Tensoring by any invertible sheaf is exact, so

The inclusions $V(nP)\subset V((n+1)P)$ have point-supported quotients. Their long exact sequences in sheaf cohomology therefore give surjections on $H^1$. Moreovera section regular away from $P$ has some finite pole order at $P$. Compute this direct limit on a finite affine cover of $C$. All its intersections with $U$ are affine by Question 2, and localization commutes with filtered direct limits. The Čech cochain complex consequently givesThe maps from $H^1(C,V)$ to these groups are surjective. Choose a finite basis of this starting vector space. Each basis vector becomes zero at some stage in the direct limit; one common stage kills the entire basis. Thus there exists $n_0\ge 0$ with $H^1(C,V(n_{0}P))=0$.

Now let $D$ be any divisor on an algebraic curve with $\mathrm{deg}D\ge n_0+g$. The estimate above gives $h^0({\mathcal{O}}_C(D-n_{0}P))\ge 1$. A nonzero section identifies $D-n_{0}P$ with an effective divisor $E$ up to linear equivalence of divisors. Hence $V(D)\cong V(n_{0}P+E)$. Adding $E$ gives a point-supported quotient of $V(n_{0}P+E)/V(n_{0}P)$, so its first sheaf cohomology is a quotient of $H^1(C,V(n_{0}P))=0$. We have proved uniform high-degree vanishing on a smooth projective curve:This bound concerns all high-degree divisors, not only multiples of a previously chosen divisor.

A blowup of an algebraic variety supplies a reduced special fibre with all three requested defects. Let $B={\mathbb{A}}^3$ have coordinates $(x,y,z)$, let $p=(0,1,0)$, and let $\pi :X={\mathrm{Bl}}_{p}B\to B$. Take $Y={\mathbb{A}}^1$ and the regular mapFor an explicit construction, $X$ is the closed subvariety of ${\mathbb{A}}^3\times {\mathbb{P}}^2$, with projective coordinates $[u:v:w]$, defined byThese equations say that $(x,y-1,z)$ is proportional to $(u,v,w)$. The three standard projective charts are affine spaces ${\mathbb{A}}^3$, so $X$ is a smooth variety which is an irreducible variety embedded in a quasi-projective algebraic set. Its algebraic exceptional divisor is $E={\pi }^{-1}(p)\cong {\mathbb{P}}^2$.

If $t\ne 0$, the surface $xy=t$ misses $p$, and the blowup of an algebraic variety is an isomorphism over it. HenceIt is a smooth variety, an affine variety, an irreducible variety, and has algebraic dimension $2$.

For $t=0$, the fibre of a morphism has three irreducible components: the strict transform of an algebraic subvariety $\widetilde{V(x)}$, the unchanged plane $V(y)$, and the algebraic exceptional divisor $E\cong {\mathbb{P}}^2$. The centre $p$ lies on $V(x)$ but not on $V(y)$; this is why all three components have multiplicity one. To verify reducedness and the crossing directly near $E$, use the chart $v\ne 0$, puttingHere $x=ab$, $y=1+b$, $z=bc$, and $f=ab(1+b)$. Near $b=0$, the factor $1+b$ is a unit, so the fibre of a morphism is $ab=0$, a reduced union of two crossing planes. The $u$-chart gives $f=x(1+xv)$, whose second factor is a unit along $E$; the $w$-chart gives $f=zu(1+zv)$ and the same reduced crossing. Away from $E$, reducedness follows from $xy=0$ in $B$. Thus the scheme-theoretic fibre of a morphism is itself reduced.

It has singular points of an algebraic variety already along $V(x,y)$, which misses $p$: locally its equation is $xy=0$, with Zariski tangent space of dimension of a vector space $3$ but local dimension of an algebraic variety $2$. Finally, $E$ is a closed subvariety of $X_0$. A closed subvariety of an affine variety is an affine variety, whereas ${\mathbb{P}}^2$ is not: all its global regular functions are constant, which cannot be the coordinate ring of a positive-dimensional affine variety. Consequently $X_0$ is singular, reducible, and nonaffine, as required. Choosing the centre off the intersection of the original planes avoids introducing a nonreduced special fibre of a morphism.

For a smooth projective curve $C$, let $g=h^1(C,{\mathcal{O}}_C)$ be its geometric genus, let $K_C$ be a canonical divisor, and write $\ell (D)=h^0(C,{\mathcal{O}}_C(D))$ for the dimension of a vector space of the Riemann-Roch space. The Riemann-Roch theorem saysfor every divisor on an algebraic curve $D$ on $C$.

Here is the cohomological proof of Riemann-Roch for curves. At a closed point $P$, the local ring is a discrete valuation ring. A local uniformizer shows that increasing the allowed pole order by one gives the short exact sequence of sheavesThe last term is a length-one skyscraper sheaf; its precise identification with $k$ is noncanonical, but its sheaf cohomology has $h^0=1$ and $h^1=0$. All the relevant groups of sheaf cohomology are finite-dimensional because $C$ is a projective variety, and coherent sheaf cohomology above degree one vanishes on a algebraic curve. The long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology therefore givesSince $k$ is an algebraically closed field, every closed point has degree one. Iterating this identity for both positive and negative coefficients of $D$ provesEvery global regular function on a projective variety which is an irreducible variety is constant; hence $h^0(C,{\mathcal{O}}_C)=1$ and $\chi ({\mathcal{O}}_C)=1-g$.

Finally apply Serre duality for a smooth projective curve:Taking dimensions of a vector space and inserting this in the Euler characteristic of a coherent sheaf identity proves the displayed Riemann-Roch theorem. The substantial inputs from sheaf cohomology are finiteness and vanishing for coherent sheaves on a projective curve, and Serre duality; the change of Euler characteristic of a coherent sheaf is proved directly by the point exact sequence. In particular the argument handles negative as well as effective divisors on an algebraic curve.

For an affine variety $V\subseteq {\mathbb{A}}_k^N$, one construction defines ${\mathcal{O}}_V(U)$ as the functions $U\to k$ which locally have the form $p/q$, where $p,q$ are elements of the coordinate ring $k[V]$ and $q$ does not vanish on the neighbourhood in question. Restrictions are restrictions of functions, and locality gives the sheaf axioms. In particularThe second formula identifies its local rings.

In the classical convention, an algebraic variety over $k$ is an irreducible ringed space with a sheaf of $k$-valued functions, admitting a finite open cover by spaces isomorphic to affine varieties, and satisfying the separated variety condition that its diagonal is closed in $X\times X$. Its topology is Noetherian. One can instead allow reducible reduced varieties; the arguments below still work with the denominator-clearing version of the localization argument. A morphism of varieties is a continuous map whose pullback takes local regular functions to regular functions, equivalently a morphism of locally ringed $k$-spaces. The maps on local rings are local because a function nonzero at the image point stays nonzero at the source point.

An affine variety supplies its own finite affine cover, is Noetherian, and is separated: its diagonal in $V\times V$ is cut out by the differences of corresponding coordinates. A regular map between affine varieties pulls coordinate functions back to regular functions. It is continuous because the inverse image of any polynomial zero set is the zero set of the pulled-back regular functions; on affine charts such zero sets are closed. Pulling back a locally represented fraction $p/q$ gives a regular fraction wherever its denominator is nonzero. Hence a regular map is a morphism of varieties in this definition.

For a morphism $\varphi :X\to Y$ which is an isomorphism over each member $U_i$ of an open cover of $Y$, every fibre contains exactly one point. Thus $\varphi$ is bijective. Its inverse is continuous and regular on every $U_i$, since there it is the given inverse of the local isomorphism. These inverses agree on overlaps, being inverses of the same map. They glue to a global inverse morphism of varieties. Therefore being an isomorphism is local on the target.

Let $A=\Gamma (X,{\mathcal{O}}_X)$, and let $Y$ be affine with coordinate ring $B$. Given a $k$-algebra homomorphism $\alpha :B\to A$, choose a presentation $B=k[y_1,\dots ,y_N]/I$. The maplands in $Y$ because all the equations in $I$ become zero functions. Its coordinates are global regular functions, so it is a morphism on every affine chart of $X$, and therefore globally. On a target neighbourhood where a fraction $b/c$ is defined its pullback is $\alpha (b)/\alpha (c)$, proving that the induced map on global sections is exactly $\alpha$. This also proves independence of the chosen generators and uniqueness. This is the affine-target adjunction for varieties.

For $f\in A$, the natural map $A_f\to \Gamma (X_f,{\mathcal{O}}_X)$ sends $a/f^N$ to that regular function. In the irreducible convention, if $f\ne 0$, $X_f$ is dense, so this map is injective: a global regular function vanishing there vanishes everywhere. Cover $X$ by finitely many affine charts $U_j$. A section $s$ on $X_f$ restricts on $U_j\cap X_f=D_{U_j}(f{|}_{U_j})$ to an element of $\Gamma (U_j,{\mathcal{O}}_X{)}_{f{|}_{U_j}}$. A common power $f^N$ clears all these finitely many denominators. The resulting regular sections on $U_j$ agree on the dense principal open in each overlap, hence agree there altogether and glue to a global section $a$. Thus $s=a/f^N$. If $f=0$, both sides are the zero ring of sections on the empty open. ConsequentlyThis is localization of global sections on a principal open. For reduced reducible varieties, equality on a principal open instead means that a sufficiently large power of $f$ annihilates the difference; finitely many charts and overlap refinements allow one common extra power. The same denominator-clearing proof then gives the stated localization isomorphism without a density assumption.

Now suppose ${\sum }_i{g}_i{f}_i=1$ in $A$ and every $X_{f_i}$ is affine. Each $A_{f_i}=\Gamma (X_{f_i},{\mathcal{O}}_X)$ is a finitely generated $k$-algebra. Select finitely many generators, writing them as $a_{ij}/f_i^{N_{ij}}$. Let $B\subseteq A$ be the $k$-subalgebra generated by all $f_i$, all $g_i$, and all $a_{ij}$. It is finitely generated, andThe inclusion from left to right is immediate, while the chosen generators give the reverse inclusion. This construction does not assume that $A$ was finitely generated in advance.

The reduced algebra $B$ is the coordinate ring of an affine variety $Y$ (irreducible when $X$ is). The map $B\hookrightarrow A$ produces $X\to Y$ by the preceding construction. The sets $D_Y(f_i)$ cover $Y$, since their functions generate the unit ideal already in $B$. Their inverse images are $X_{f_i}$, and on them the map is the isomorphism corresponding to $B_{f_i}=A_{f_i}$. The target-local argument above now provesThis is affineness from a unit-ideal principal affine cover. The printed sets are $X_{f_i}$; the missing index in the TeX aid is not a different hypothesis.

Put $A=k[t_1,t_2]$. The punctured affine plane is covered by the principal open subschemes $D(t_1)$ and $D(t_2)$. Since $A$ is an integral domain, restriction identifies its global sections withThis intersection is $A$: if $a/t_1^r=b/t_2^s$, then $t_2^{s}a=t_1^{r}b$, and unique factorization forces $t_1^r$ to divide $a$. Therefore the inclusion $j:X\hookrightarrow \mathrm{Spec}A$ induces the identity on global regular functions.

If $X$ were an affine scheme, affine scheme reconstruction from global sections would make $j$ an isomorphism of schemes, because its global-section map is an isomorphism. But its image omits the closed point $(t_1,t_2)$. The punctured affine plane is therefore not affine. This is a useful example of global regular functions failing to distinguish a nonaffine open subscheme from its affine ambient space.