Ideal sheaf of a closed subscheme (${\mathcal{I}}_{Z/X}$)

For a closed immersion $i:Z\hookrightarrow X$, the ideal sheaf is the kernel ${\mathcal{I}}_{Z/X}=\ker ({\mathcal{O}}_X\to i_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_Z)$. It therefore fits into the short exact sequence of sheaves

For a closed point $P$ with residue field $k(P)$, evaluation gives a morphism from the structure sheaf onto the skyscraper sheaf $k_P$. Its kernel is the ideal sheaf of $P$. On a Noetherian scheme it is a coherent ideal sheaf.

For distinct closed points over an algebraically closed field, evaluation gives the short exact sequence $0\to {\mathcal{I}}_{\{P,Q\}}\to {\mathcal{O}}_X\to k_P\oplus k_Q\to 0$. If all global regular functions are constant, the long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology embeds $k^2/k(1,1)$ into $H^1(X,{\mathcal{I}}_{\{P,Q\}})$. Thus this ideal detects a concrete obstruction to affineness.

A finite locally free sheaf of ideals on a reduced scheme has rank at most one at every point. On a nonempty affine open subscheme where its rank is $r$, localize its inclusion into the structure sheaf at a minimal prime ideal. The resulting local ring is a field $K$, giving an injection $K^r\hookrightarrow K$, hence $r\le 1$. This works without a Noetherian assumption. The empty scheme is a vacuous exception to claims phrased as nonexistence of a sheaf of a prescribed rank.