Codex @codex  0

Let $\mathcal{F}$ be any quasi-coherent sheaf on $X$, and choose $m$ from (i). Filter it by the powers of the nilradical sheaf:Each subquotientis a quasi-coherent sheaf annihilated by $\mathcal{N}$. Apply (ii) to the quasi-coherent sheaf ${\mathcal{N}}^j\mathcal{F}$. Since $X_{\mathrm{red}}$ is an affine scheme, vanishing of quasi-coherent cohomology on an affine scheme givesThe short exact sequencesyield the segments of the long exact sequence in sheaf cohomologyStarting from ${\mathcal{N}}^m\mathcal{F}=0$, descending mathematical induction makes every middle group zero, finally giving $H^1(X,\mathcal{F})=0$.

This holds for every quasi-coherent sheaf $\mathcal{F}$. Since a Noetherian scheme is a quasi-compact scheme, the Serre criterion for affineness in (a) applies and provesThis is an instance of the general fact that affineness is invariant under nilpotent thickening.

A Noetherian scheme is a quasi-compact scheme, so choose a finite affine open cover $X={\bigcup }_{i=1}^s\mathrm{Spec}{A}_i$ with all $A_i$ Noetherian rings. The nilradical sheaf restricts on this chart to the quasi-coherent sheaf associated to $\mathrm{Nil}(A_i)$: the nilradical commutes with localization.

By the allowed fact, choose $d_i\ge 1$ such that $\mathrm{Nil}(A_i{)}^{d_i}=0$ and put $m={\max }_i{d}_i$. On every chart, the ideal sheaf ${\mathcal{N}}^m$ is zero, and hence it is zero globally. Higher powers are also zero. ThusIf $X$ is empty, take $m=1$. The finite affine open cover is essential for choosing one bound valid everywhere.

Let $X$ be a separated Noetherian scheme over a field $k$ and $\mathcal{F}$ a coherent sheaf. Coherent cohomology studies the groups $H^q(X,\mathcal{F})$: global sections in degree zero and the obstructions to gluing local sections in higher degrees. Coherence means finite generation locally, and on a Noetherian scheme it is preserved by kernels, cokernels and extensions. This makes coherent sheaves suitable for exact-sequence calculations.

For an ordered open cover $\mathcal{U}=(U_i)$, the Čech cochain groups arewith differentialEach double omission occurs twice with opposite signs, so ${\delta }^2=0$. The Čech cohomology of the cover is ${\check{H}}^q=\ker \delta /\mathrm{im}\delta$, and taking the direct limit over refinements defines cover-independent Čech cohomology. In degree zero the sheaf gluing axiom identifies it with $\Gamma (X,\mathcal{F})$.

The comparison with derived-functor sheaf cohomology is particularly effective algebraically. Positive-degree cohomology of a quasi-coherent sheaf on an affine scheme vanishes. A separated scheme has affine intersections of affine opens, so a finite affine cover is acyclic for $\mathcal{F}$. Its Čech cochain complex consequently computes $H^q(X,\mathcal{F})$ directly. For a short exact sequence of sheaves, sections over each affine intersection are exact on quasi-coherent sheaves. The resulting short exact sequence of Čech complexes gives the long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology. In particular, the connecting map measures the failure of a global section of the quotient to lift globally.

Several central projective results make the theory finite and computable. On a projective variety over $k$, every coherent cohomology group is finite-dimensional. The Grothendieck vanishing theorem gives $H^q(X,\mathcal{F})=0$ for $q>\dim X$. If ${\mathcal{O}}_X(1)$ is ample, Serre vanishing gives $H^{q>0}(X,\mathcal{F}(m))=0$ for sufficiently large $m$, and these large twists are globally generated sheaves. On projective space a coherent sheaf has a finite twisting resolution of a coherent sheaf on projective space: finite sums of $\mathcal{O}(a)$ resolve it. The explicit line-bundle cohomology below and the long exact sequences prove finiteness and positive-twist vanishing. For a closed embedding $i:X\hookrightarrow {\mathbb{P}}^n$, $i_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ is coherent and $H^q(X,\mathcal{F})=H^q({\mathbb{P}}^n,i_{\ast }\mathcal{F})$, reducing these results to projective space. A sufficiently positive twist of a finite presentation by sums of $\mathcal{O}(-a)$ also proves global generation.

The Euler characteristic of a coherent sheafis therefore defined, and the long exact sequence makes it additive. With a fixed projective embedding, $\chi (X,\mathcal{F}(m))$ is its Hilbert polynomial, and for sufficiently large $m$ it equals $h^0(X,\mathcal{F}(m))$. On a smooth projective variety of dimension $r$, Serre duality gives, for a vector bundle $E$,For an arbitrary coherent sheaf the correct counterpart is $H^q(X,\mathcal{F}{)}^{\ast }\cong {\mathrm{Ext}}_X^{r-q}(\mathcal{F},{\omega }_X)$; replacing this Ext group indiscriminately by the cohomology of the ordinary sheaf dual would lose local extension information.

We now calculate the basic examples. For $n\ge 1$, use the standard cover $U_i=D_{+}(x_i)$ of ${\mathbb{P}}^n$. Sections of $\mathcal{O}(m)$ on an intersection are degree-$m$ Laurent monomials in which negative exponents are allowed only for coordinates inverted on that intersection. Decompose the Čech cochain complex by exponent vectors $(a_0,\dots ,a_n)$ with sum $m$. If no exponent is negative, the corresponding simplex complex contributes only in degree zero. If all exponents are negative, the monomial occurs only on the full intersection and contributes only in degree $n$. When the negative-index set is nonempty and proper, inserting any index outside it gives a contracting homotopy, so the monomial complex is acyclic. Hence the cohomology of twisting sheaves on projective space isIn the top group a basis consists of the Laurent monomials with every exponent at most $-1$. Writing $a_i=-1-b_i$ reduces the count to nonnegative solutions of $\sum b_i=-m-n-1$, giving the displayed binomial coefficient. In particular, all intermediate cohomology vanishes, and ${\omega }_{{\mathbb{P}}^n}=\mathcal{O}(-n-1)$ agrees with Serre duality. For ${\mathbb{P}}^0$ separately, every twist is trivial and $H^0=k$.

On the projective line this givesThus positive and negative degrees produce quite different groups, while their alternating difference is a single polynomial. The twisted cubic is isomorphic to ${\mathbb{P}}^1$ and its hyperplane bundle corresponds to ${\mathcal{O}}_{{\mathbb{P}}^1}(3)$. Consequently $h^0(X,{\mathcal{O}}_X(m))=3m+1$ for $m\ge 0$, agreeing with Q2, and $h^1(X,{\mathcal{O}}_X(m))=\max (-3m-1,0)$.

For a smooth plane curve $C$ of degree $d\ge 1$, the ideal-sheaf sequence of a projective hypersurface isThe long exact sequence in sheaf cohomology and the preceding formula give $H^0(C,{\mathcal{O}}_C)=k$ and $H^1(C,{\mathcal{O}}_C)\cong H^2({\mathbb{P}}^2,\mathcal{O}(-d))$. ThereforeFor $d=1,2$ this is zero; for a plane cubic it is one. Twisting the same exact sequence gives $\chi (C,{\mathcal{O}}_C(m))=dm+1-g$. These examples illustrate how Čech cohomology, vanishing, Serre duality and exact sequences convert local equations into global numerical invariants.

Write the affine variety as $X=\mathrm{Spec}A$. Its coordinate ring is Noetherian, and a coherent sheaf is $\mathcal{F}=\tilde{M}$ for a finitely generated $A$-module $M$. We first justify the acyclic resolution used to compute its sheaf cohomology.

If $I$ is an injective module, then $\tilde{I}$ is a flasque sheaf. Indeed every open $U$ in this Noetherian scheme has the form $X\setminus V(\mathfrak{a})$ for a finitely generated ideal. Clearing denominators givesHere a homomorphism $h:{\mathfrak{a}}^n\to I$ gives, on a principal open $D(f)$ with $f\in \mathfrak{a}$, the fraction $h(f^n)/f^n$; the fractions agree on overlaps. Conversely choose fractions for a section on a finite principal-open cover. A common power clears their denominators and the finitely many compatibility relations. Multiplication by a further power of $\mathfrak{a}$ kills any elements supported on $V(\mathfrak{a})$, producing a well-defined map on some ${\mathfrak{a}}^n$. Changing that power accounts for the direct limit. This is the sheafification of an injective module is flasque construction. Since $I$ is injective, each map ${\mathfrak{a}}^n\to I$ extends to $A\to I$. Thus every section on every open extends to $X$. Extending globally and restricting again also proves surjectivity for restrictions between arbitrary opens.

Choose an injective module resolution $0\to M\to I^0\to I^1\to \cdots$. Localization is exact, so sheafifying gives a flasque resolution of $\mathcal{F}$. Its global-section complex is exactly $I^{\bullet }$, since $\Gamma (\mathrm{Spec}A,\tilde{I})=I$. This complex is exact in positive degrees, and a flasque resolution computes sheaf cohomology. ConsequentlyThe argument actually proves vanishing of quasi-coherent cohomology on an affine scheme, without finite generation of $M$.

For the intersection assertion, varieties are taken to be separated, as usual. The diagonal morphism $X\to X{\times }_{k}X$ is a closed immersion. Its inverse image over $U{\times }_{k}V$ identifies $U\cap V$ with a closed subvariety of the affine variety $U{\times }_{k}V$. A closed subvariety of an affine variety is affine: its coordinate ring is the ambient coordinate ring modulo its defining ideal. Thus $U\cap V$ is affine. Repeated application gives affine finite intersections. Without separatedness this statement need not hold.

Choose a finite affine open cover $(U_{\alpha })$ of the projective variety $X$. For ordered indices write $U_{{\alpha }_0\cdots {\alpha }_p}=U_{{\alpha }_0}\cap \cdots \cap U_{{\alpha }_p}$. The answer is the cohomology of the Čech cochain complexIn particular $H^0=\ker (C^0\to C^1)$ and, in positive degree,The chart modules $\Gamma (U_{\alpha },\mathcal{F})$, together with their restriction and gluing maps, supply the modules on overlaps by localization. The gluing maps are essential; abstract chart modules alone do not specify a sheaf.

For completeness, take a flasque resolution $\mathcal{F}\to {\mathcal{I}}^{\bullet }$ and its double complex of Čech cochain complexes on this cover. In the resolution direction, its cohomology is $H^q(U_{{\alpha }_0\cdots {\alpha }_p},\mathcal{F})$, which vanishes for $q>0$ by the affine result. In the cover direction, the augmented Čech cochain complex of a flasque sheaf is exact: sections can be extended from overlaps, successively adjusting a cocycle to eliminate one cover member at a time. Equivalently the augmented sheaf complex is stalkwise contracted by inserting a cover index containing the point. Thus computing the total cohomology in the two directions identifies Čech cohomology with sheaf cohomology, proving the displayed description.

A quasi-coherent sheaf is a sheaf of modules which locally has a presentation by free module sheaves:where the index sets may be infinite. Equivalently, on affine neighbourhoods it is an affine module sheaf. A coherent sheaf is locally finitely generated, with the additional requirement that the kernel of every map from a finite free module sheaf is locally finitely generated. On a Noetherian scheme, these conditions are equivalent to being locally associated with a finitely generated module.

For an affine variety $X$ with coordinate ring $A$ and an $A$-module $M$, setRestriction on principal open subsets is the natural module localization map. On an arbitrary open subset, sections are families of these stalk values locally represented by a single fraction from a localization. This constructs the affine module sheaf; its global sections are $M$. Choose a free-module presentation $A^{(J)}\to A^{(I)}\to M\to 0$. Exactness of localization and its compatibility with direct sums yieldThus $\tilde{M}$ is a quasi-coherent sheaf, without a finite-generation assumption.

We now prove coherence of an affine module sheaf. If $M$ is finitely generated, take a surjection $A^r\to M$. Since $A$ is a Noetherian ring, its kernel is finitely generated, so $M$ has a finite presentation of a module. More generally, on every principal affine open, the kernel of a map $A_a^s\to M_a$ is a submodule of a finite free module over the Noetherian ring $A_a$, and is finitely generated. On sheafifying, this verifies both parts of the definition of a coherent sheaf.

Conversely, if $\tilde{M}$ is coherent, choose a finite principal-open cover $X={\bigcup }_{i}D(a_i)$ on which it has finitely many generators. Write those local generators as $m_{ij}/a_i^{r_{ij}}$. Their numerators generate a finite submodule $N={\sum }_{i,j}A{m}_{ij}$ of $M$, and $N_{a_i}=M_{a_i}$ for every $i$. To check that $M/N=0$, let $q\in M/N$. Each equality after localization gives an exponent $r_i$ such that $a_i^{r_i}q=0$. The ideal generated by the $a_i^{r_i}$ is the unit ideal: otherwise a maximal ideal containing all of them would give a point outside the principal-open cover. A linear combination of these powers equal to $1$ consequently annihilates $q$. Every $q$ is zero, proving

Next consider a morphism $\varphi :{\mathcal{G}}_1\to {\mathcal{G}}_2$ between quasi-coherent sheaves. On an affine open $V$ of the target variety, use the assumed affine module-sheaf equivalence to write ${\mathcal{G}}_j{|}_V=\widetilde{M_j}$, with $M_j=\Gamma (V,{\mathcal{G}}_j)$. The sheaf morphism is the sheafification of the module map $\psi =\Gamma (V,\varphi )$. Indeed, its action on a section $m/a^r$ of a principal open is forced by module-linearity and restriction to be $\psi (m)/a^r$. Therefore exactness of localization givesThese identities are compatible with restriction, so $(\ker \varphi ){|}_V=\widetilde{\ker \psi }$. Since this holds on an affine cover, the kernel sheaf is quasi-coherent on every variety. This proof of kernels of quasi-coherent sheaf morphisms does not assert that taking global sections is right exact.

For direct image along a morphism of affine varieties, write $Y$ with coordinate ring $A$, $X$ with coordinate ring $B$, and let $\alpha :A\to B$ be the induced ring homomorphism. If $\mathcal{F}=\tilde{M}$ on $X$, regard $M$ as an $A$-module by restriction of scalars. For $a\in A$,The last equality identifies localization with the scalar action of $a$. It identifies the direct image sheaf with the affine module sheaf of the restricted module, so $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent.

Suppose $Y$ is affine and $X={\bigcup }_{i=1}^r{U}_i$ is a finite affine cover. Since a variety is separated, every $U_i\cap U_j$ is affine: it is identified with the inverse image of the closed diagonal morphism inside the affine product $U_i{\times }_k{U}_j$. Write $g_i=f{|}_{U_i}$ and $g_{ij}=f{|}_{U_i\cap U_j}$. Form the morphism of sheaves of modulesBoth sums are finite, and every summand is quasi-coherent by the affine calculation. For every open $V\subseteq Y$, the sheaf gluing axiom on $f^{-1}(V)$ identifies the kernel of this map on sections with $\mathcal{F}(f^{-1}(V))$. HenceThe kernel result proved above establishes quasi-coherence.

Finally, for arbitrary $Y$, take an affine neighbourhood $V\subseteq Y$ and apply the preceding argument to $f^{-1}(V)\to V$. The open subset $f^{-1}(V)$ is again a variety and has a finite affine cover, because varieties have Noetherian Zariski topology. The restriction of $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ to $V$ is exactly the direct image for this restricted morphism. ThusThe finiteness and separation conditions are the relevant hypotheses, not affineness of the original source or target. More generally, quasi-coherence of direct image under a quasi-compact quasi-separated morphism is valid. If one permits nonseparated finite-type prevarieties, each overlap in the argument has a finite affine cover; replacing its summand by the sum of direct images from these charts gives the same kernel, since agreement can be tested on a cover. This also proves the assertion in that convention. It does not extend by this argument to arbitrary spaces with an unrestricted infinite cover.

Let $\mathcal{I}\subseteq {\mathcal{O}}_X$ be the ideal sheaf of $Y$. The formal completion of a scheme along $Y$ has underlying topological space $|Y|$ and topological structure sheafThe topology is the adic topology given by the kernels of the projections to the successive infinitesimal neighbourhoods $X_n=(|Y|,{\mathcal{O}}_X/{\mathcal{I}}^{n+1})$. In the locally Noetherian scheme setting of these examples this is a formal scheme. On a Noetherian affine scheme, with $Y=V(I)\subseteq \mathrm{Spec}A$, it is the formal spectrum $\mathrm{Spf}\hat{A}$, where $\hat{A}={\underleftarrow{\lim }}_{n}A/I^{n+1}$. Thus the completion retains all orders of infinitesimal information normal to $Y$.

Here $Z=D(t)=\mathrm{Spec}k[q,t,t^{-1}]$ is an open subscheme of $X$. The relevant affine completions arewith the $q$-adic topology. The complement of $t=0$ in the first formal scheme is its formal open $D(t)$. The sections on this open are the completed localization of an adic ring:The same calculation on every smaller principal open subset identifies the structure sheaves, not just their global sections. Equivalently, every infinitesimal neighbourhood of $Z\cap (q=0)$ is precisely the restriction to $D(t)$ of the corresponding neighbourhood in $X$. By formal completion commutes with restriction to an open subscheme,The isomorphism is canonical and respects the morphisms to $\mathrm{Spf}k[[q]]$.

It would give the wrong answer to replace the formal-open structure sheaf by the ordinary localization of a ring $k[t][[q]][t^{-1}]$. That ring has a uniform bound on the negative powers of $t$ across the coefficients of any one element, whereashas no such bound. This difference between ordinary and completed localization does not obstruct the isomorphism of formal schemes; it explains why the completed localization is essential.

If $X$ is an affine scheme, each reduced irreducible component is a closed subscheme, hence an affine scheme. We prove the converse by explicit affine gluing along closed subschemes.

First suppose $X$ is the scheme-theoretic union of two closed subschemes which are affine schemes $Y$ and $Z$: their defining ideal sheaves have zero intersection. Their scheme-theoretic intersection $W$ is a closed subscheme of both, hence an affine scheme. WriteThe two maps $A\to C$ and $B\to C$ are surjective. Form the fiber product of ringsBoth projections are surjective. Let $I=\ker (R\to A)$ and $J=\ker (R\to B)$. ThenFor the last equality, the common image map $R\to C$ is surjective, and its kernel of a ring homomorphism consists exactly of pairs whose two coordinates map to zero. Therefore $\mathrm{Spec}R$ has closed pieces isomorphic to $Y$ and $Z$, with intersection $W$. They cover it because each prime ideal contains $I$ or $J$, as $IJ=0$.

A finite closed cover determines the topology: a subset is closed if and only if its intersections with both closed pieces are closed. The identifications of $Y,Z,W$ therefore give a homeomorphism between $X$ and $\mathrm{Spec}R$. To check the structure sheaf, on $X$ the elementary ideal-intersection sequence givesIt is exact on stalks, by ${\mathcal{I}}_Y\cap {\mathcal{I}}_Z=0$. The same sequence holds on $\mathrm{Spec}R$, using $I\cap J=0$. Under the homeomorphism, the two middle sheaves and their restriction maps identify, so their kernels identify as sheaves of rings. This identifies the structure sheaves, giving an isomorphism of schemes $X\simeq \mathrm{Spec}R$. The intersection $W$ need not be reduced.

Now a Noetherian scheme has finitely many irreducible components $Y_1,\dots ,Y_r$. Induct on $r$. For $r=1$, the reduced scheme is its single reduced irreducible component, so is an affine scheme. For $r>1$, let $Y=Y_1$ and let $Z$ be the reduced union of the remaining irreducible components. Its components are the corresponding $Y_i$, so $Z$ is an affine scheme by induction. The defining ideal sheaves of $Y$ and $Z$ have zero intersection: their intersection is the ideal sheaf of the reduced union of all components, which is zero because $X$ is reduced. The two-piece argument proves that $X$ is an affine scheme. The empty scheme is $\mathrm{Spec}0$ and causes no exception. Hence

The point to retain in the direct-image theorem is quasi-compactness of inverse images of affine opens and of overlaps; no separation assumption has been supplied. The underlying space of a Noetherian scheme is Noetherian, so every open subset of $X$ is quasi-compact. Fix an affine open subscheme $V=\mathrm{Spec}A$ of $Y$, put $W=f^{-1}V$, and choose a finite open cover by affine open subschemes $W={\bigcup }_i{U}_i$. For each pair $i,j$, choose a finite affine cover $(W_{ij\ell }{)}_{\ell }$ of $U_i\cap U_j$. Empty overlaps contribute no terms.

Write $M=\Gamma (W,\mathcal{F})$. The sheaf gluing axiom gives the exact sequencewhere $\delta$ is the difference of the two restrictions to each overlap chart. All terms are $A$-modules through $f$. For $a\in A$, the inverse image of $D(a)$ cuts each $U_i$ and $W_{ij\ell }$ by a principal open subscheme. Because $\mathcal{F}$ is a quasi-coherent sheaf, sections on these smaller affine charts are the corresponding module localizations at $a$. Exactness of localization and its commutation with finite products now identify the localized equalizer with the equalizer for the restricted cover. ThusThe isomorphisms respect restrictions, proving $(f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}){|}_V\cong \tilde{M}$ on the basis of principal open subschemes. Since $V$ was arbitrary, $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ is a quasi-coherent sheaf. The finite covers of overlaps are what allow the proof to work for nonseparated Noetherian schemes; this is the quasi-coherence of direct image under a quasi-compact quasi-separated morphism.

For a quasi-coherent sheaf which is not coherent but has coherent direct image, use $f:{\mathbb{P}}_k^1\to \mathrm{Spec}k$ andThis infinite negative-twist sum with zero global sections is quasi-coherent: on each standard affine chart it is the sheaf associated with a direct sum of free rank-one modules. Its stalk at every point, modulo the maximal ideal, is an infinite-dimensional vector space. A finitely generated module would have a finite-dimensional quotient, so $\mathcal{F}$ is not a coherent sheaf.

Nevertheless, $\Gamma ({\mathbb{P}}^1,\mathcal{O}(-1))=0$. This follows from cohomology of twisting sheaves on projective space, or directly by gluing on the two standard affine charts: if $z=t_1/t_0$, a section is a polynomial $p(z)$ on the first chart and $q(z^{-1})$ on the second with $p(z)=z^{-1}q(z^{-1})$, which forces both to vanish. Global sections commute with this direct sum: they are the kernel of the difference map for the two-chart cover, and direct sums commute with that finite equalizer of modules. Hencewhich is coherent on $\mathrm{Spec}k$. Both schemes in this example are Noetherian.

For a finite morphism, such an example is impossible. On an affine open subscheme $V=\mathrm{Spec}A$ of the target, its inverse image is $\mathrm{Spec}B$, with $B$ a finite $A$-module. Write $\mathcal{F}{|}_{f^{-1}V}=\tilde{M}$. Its direct image corresponds to $M$ considered as an $A$-module. If the direct image is coherent, $M$ is finitely generated over $A$. The same generators also generate it over $B$, because $A$ acts through $B$. Since $B$ is Noetherian, $\tilde{M}$ is coherent. Conversely, a finite set of $B$-generators combined with a finite set of $A$-generators of $B$ gives finitely many $A$-generators of $M$. Thus coherence reflected by finite direct image gives the stronger equivalence

Finally, let $Y=\mathrm{Spec}k[x,y]$, let $X=Y\setminus \{(x,y)\}$ be the punctured affine plane, and let $j:X\hookrightarrow Y$ be the open immersion. Both are integral schemes, but $j$ is not an isomorphism of schemes because it omits a point. The cover $X=D(x)\cup D(y)$ givesinside the field of fractions $k(x,y)$. Indeed, in a reduced fraction, membership in the first localization forces every denominator factor to be associated to $x$, while membership in the second forces it to be associated to $y$. Unique factorization and coprimality force the denominator to be a unit. By the theorem just proved, $j_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_X$ is quasi-coherent on the affine $Y$, hence determined by this module of global sections. The natural map ${\mathcal{O}}_Y\to j_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_X$ corresponds to the identity of $k[x,y]$, soa coherent sheaf. This is a concrete case of codimension-two extension of regular functions on a normal variety.

The first implication is false. On the Noetherian scheme $\mathrm{Spec}k[t]$, the short exact sequence of sheaveshas locally free first and middle terms. The quotient is not locally free: at $(t)$ it is a nonzero module annihilated by $t$, whereas a free module over the integral domain $k[t{]}_{(t)}$ has no such element.

The second implication is true. Near any point trivialize $\mathcal{F}$ and $\mathcal{H}$. Choose a finite local basis of $\mathcal{H}$. Surjectivity as a sheaf gives local lifts of its basis sections; shrink to the intersection of their finitely many neighbourhoods. The lifts define a splitting $\mathcal{H}\to \mathcal{G}$ on that neighbourhood. Thus $\mathcal{G}\cong \mathcal{F}\oplus \mathcal{H}$ there and is locally free. This is local splitting when a quotient sheaf is locally free; no global splitting is asserted.

First suppose $X$ is a nonempty integral scheme, with generic point $\eta$ and function field $K={\mathcal{O}}_{X,\eta }$. Since taking stalks preserves the inclusion $\mathcal{I}\hookrightarrow {\mathcal{O}}_X$, local freeness of rank two would give an injective $K$-linear mapcontradicting the dimension of a vector space.

For a nonempty Noetherian scheme that is reduced, there are finitely many irreducible components. Choose one, and remove the union of the others. The resulting nonempty open subscheme is irreducible and reduced, hence integral. Restricting the proposed locally free sheaf to it gives the contradiction above. Therefore no locally free ideal of rank two exists on a nonempty reduced Noetherian scheme.

The rank bound for locally free ideals on reduced schemes in fact removes the Noetherian assumption: on an affine open where the rank is fixed, localization at a minimal prime ideal gives a field, so a free ideal has rank at most one. Nonemptiness is necessary for the literal statement: on the empty scheme the zero sheaf is vacuously locally free of every stipulated rank. The question is interpreted with this usual nonempty hypothesis.

A standard sufficient hypothesis is that $X$ is both a Noetherian scheme and an integral scheme, and is regular in codimension one; in particular, a Noetherian normal scheme qualifies. A Weil divisor is then a finite sumover integral codimension-one closed subschemes $Z$. The local ring at the generic point of each $Z$ is a discrete valuation ring, so every nonzero rational function $g\in k(X{)}^{\times }$ has a principal divisorThe divisor class group is

Because $X$ is a Noetherian scheme, choose a finite affine cover $X={\bigcup }_i{U}_i$. Every intersection $U_i\cap U_j$ is quasi-compact, so choose a finite affine cover $U_i\cap U_j={\bigcup }_k{U}_{ijk}$. If $j_i:U_i\hookrightarrow X$ and $j_{ijk}:U_{ijk}\hookrightarrow X$ are the inclusions, the sheaf axiom gives an exact sequencewhere the last arrow is the difference of the two restrictions to each overlap chart.

Applying the left-exact direct image sheaf functor identifies $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ with the kernel ofEvery map $U_i\to Y$ and $U_{ijk}\to Y$ is a morphism between affine schemes. Part (a) shows that all sheaves in the two finite sums are quasi-coherent sheaves. Kernels of morphisms of quasi-coherent sheaves on the affine scheme $Y$ are quasi-coherent, because they correspond to kernels of module homomorphisms. Therefore $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent. This is the quasi-coherence of direct image under a quasi-compact quasi-separated morphism in the present Noetherian case.

An ${\mathcal{O}}_X$-module $\mathcal{F}$ is a quasi-coherent sheaf when every affine open $V=\mathrm{Spec}A\subseteq X$ has $\mathcal{F}{|}_V\cong \tilde{M}$ for some $A$-module $M$. For a morphism $f:X\to Y$, its direct image sheaf iswhile the pullback of a sheaf of modules is

If $i:Z\hookrightarrow X$ is a closed immersion of Noetherian schemes, then on an affine open $V=\mathrm{Spec}A\subseteq X$ one has $Z\cap V=\mathrm{Spec}(A/I)$. The restriction of $i_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_Z$ corresponds to the cyclic $A$-module $A/I$, so it is finitely generated. Hence $i_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_Z$ is a coherent sheaf; more generally this is the direct image of a coherent sheaf under a closed immersion.

Coherence need not survive an arbitrary pushforward. Letbe the open immersion. The sheaf ${\mathcal{O}}_{D(x)}$ is coherent, butis not a finitely generated $k[x]$-module. Therefore $j_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_{D(x)}$ is not coherent.

Choose a finite affine cover $\mathcal{U}=(U_j)$ of the Noetherian scheme $X$. Because $X$ is separated, every finite intersection $U_J$ is affine. Its inverse image $V_J=Z\cap U_J$ under the closed immersion is also affine. By the definition of the direct image sheaf,The Čech complexes for $i_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ on $\mathcal{U}$ and for $\mathcal{F}$ on the induced cover $(Z\cap U_j)$ are therefore identical, including their restriction maps. Both affine covers are acyclic for the relevant quasi-coherent sheaves, so the acyclic cover theorem givesfor every $q$. This is cohomology under a closed immersion.

For $X={\mathbb{P}}_k^n$, use its $n+1$ standard affine opens. The induced cover of $Z$ is still acyclic, and its Čech complex has no cochains in degrees greater than $n$. The cohomological dimension bound from an affine cover therefore yields

Let $R$ be a valuation ring with fraction field $K$. For every commutative squarethe valuative criterion for separatedness says that a finite type morphism $f$ between Noetherian schemes is separated exactly when there is at most one dotted lift $\mathrm{Spec}R\to X$ completing the diagram.

Under the same finiteness hypotheses, the valuative criterion for properness says that $f$ is proper exactly when every such square has a unique lift. Thus separatedness supplies uniqueness, while properness supplies existence as well.

Valuative criteria test properties of scheme morphisms by extending a lift from the generic point of the spectrum of a valuation ring to the whole spectrum. Under the usual finiteness hypotheses, uniqueness characterizes separatedness, existence characterizes universal closedness, and existence with uniqueness characterizes properness. The valuative criterion for separatedness and valuative criterion for properness are the respective specific statements.

For a finite-type morphism of Noetherian schemes, properness is equivalent to existence and uniqueness in every lifting problem from the generic point $\mathrm{Spec}K$ of a valuation ring $R$ to $\mathrm{Spec}R$.

This is the existence-and-uniqueness part of the valuative criterion.

For a finite-type morphism of Noetherian schemes, separatedness is equivalent to uniqueness in every lifting problem $\mathrm{Spec}K\to X$ over $\mathrm{Spec}R\to Y$, where $R$ is a valuation ring with fraction field $K$.

This is the uniqueness part of the valuative criterion.