Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2009 / iii / Paper 24 (Topos Theory)

Use the elementary, or weak, topos axioms: finite limits and a power object $PA$ for every object $A$, naturally representing $\mathrm{Sub}(A\times X)$. No arbitrary products or coproducts are assumed. In particular $\Omega =P1$ is the subobject classifier. Inverse image of the membership relation defines $Pf:PB\to PA$ for $f:A\to B$.

Interchanging the factors in a relation gives natural bijectionsThus the contravariant power-object functor $P:{\mathcal{E}}^{\mathrm{op}}\to \mathcal{E}$ has left adjoint $P^{\mathrm{op}}$. Its adjunction unit ${\eta }_A:A\to PPA$ sends a generalized element $a$ to the predicate on $PA$ given by membership of $a$.

This unit is monic. If $x,y:T\to A$ have the same image under ${\eta }_A$, membership of $x$ and $y$ agrees in every $T$-parameterized subobject of $A$. Apply this to the graph of $x$ in $A\times T$: membership of $x$ is true, so membership of $y$ is true, which means $y=x$. This argument uses parameterized relations, not an assumption that global elements detect morphisms.

The functor $P$ reflects isomorphisms. Suppose $Pf$ is invertible. Then $PPf$ is invertible, and naturality $PPf{\eta }_A={\eta }_{B}f$ together with monicity of ${\eta }_A$ shows that $f$ is monic. Regard $f$ as a subobject of $B$. Its inverse image along itself is the whole of $A$, just as for the whole subobject of $B$. Those two subobjects correspond to maps $1\to PB$; since $Pf$ is monic, they coincide. Therefore the subobject $f$ is all of $B$, and $f$ is an isomorphism.

We now prove the preservation condition for the crude monadicity theorem. A reflexive pair in ${\mathcal{E}}^{\mathrm{op}}$ is a coreflexive pair $f,g:B\rightrightarrows A$ in $\mathcal{E}$, with $rf=rg=1_B$ for some $r:A\to B$. Let $e:E\hookrightarrow B$ be its equalizer. For any monomorphism $m$, define ${\exists }_m$ on power objects by composing a parameterized subobject with $m$; no general image construction is needed because $m$ is monic. Inverse image followed by this extension obeys $Pm{\exists }_m=1$.

Here both $f,g$ are monic. For a parameterized subobject $S$ of $B$, an element $b$ belongs to $g^{-1}(f(S))$ exactly when $gb=f{b}^{\prime }$ for some $b^{\prime }\in S$. Applying $r$ gives $b=b^{\prime }$, so this condition is precisely $b\in S$ and $fb=gb$. Consequently, as morphisms of power objects,If $h:PB\to Z$ equalizes $Pf,Pg$, these identities giveIt therefore factors uniquely through $Pe$, which is a split epimorphism with section ${\exists }_e$. Since $fe=ge$, $Pe$ also equalizes $Pf,Pg$. Hence $Pe$ is their coequalizer. This proves explicitly that power objects turn coreflexive equalizers into coequalizers.

Finite equalizers in $\mathcal{E}$ give all coequalizers of reflexive pairs in ${\mathcal{E}}^{\mathrm{op}}$, and we have shown that $P$ preserves them and reflects isomorphisms. The crude monadicity theorem now yields

Fix a set $I$ of cardinality $\kappa$. If $\mathcal{E}$ has $I$-indexed products in a category, its Eilenberg-Moore category for the double-power monad has them, since the forgetful functor creates existing limits. The displayed equivalence then gives $I$-products in ${\mathcal{E}}^{\mathrm{op}}$, hence $I$-coproducts in a category in $\mathcal{E}$.

For the converse, suppose those coproducts exist. The diagonal $\Delta :\mathcal{E}\to {\mathcal{E}}^I$ is a logical functor, because all the elementary topos structure in ${\mathcal{E}}^I$ is pointwise, and it has left adjoint ${\coprod }_I$. Apply power-object monadicity to both toposes. Under their monadic identifications, ${\Delta }^{\mathrm{op}}$ is the lift of $\Delta$ to the double-power Eilenberg-Moore categories. The base functor $\Delta$ is a right adjoint to ${\coprod }_I$, so the adjoint lifting theorem for monad algebra functors gives a left adjoint to its algebra lift. Its required reflexive coequalizers exist in ${\mathcal{E}}^{\mathrm{op}}$, since they are opposites of finite equalizers in $\mathcal{E}$. Taking opposites gives a right adjoint to $\Delta$, which is exactly the $I$-product functor. Thus the products and coproducts of fixed cardinality in a topos satisfy

Let $(G,\epsilon ,\delta )$ be a Cartesian comonad, so its endofunctor preserves finite limits. A coalgebra for a comonad is $(A,a)$ with $a:A\to GA$, ${\epsilon }_{A}a=1_A$ and ${\delta }_{A}a=Gaa$. Its morphisms satisfy $bf=Gfa$. Write $U:{\mathcal{E}}^G\to \mathcal{E}$ for the forgetful functor and $R(X)=(GX,{\delta }_X)$ for the cofree coalgebra. Transposition isThe forgetful functor creates finite limits, since $G$ preserves them. We construct both exponential objects and the subobject classifier.

For coalgebras $(A,a),(B,b)$, set $D=B^A$ and $W=(GB{)}^A$ in the ambient topos. Define $p,q:GD\to W$ by transposingwhere $GD\times GA\cong G(D\times A)$. Their cofree transposes are coalgebra morphismsLet $H$ be their coalgebra equalizer. For a coalgebra $(C,c)$, an arrow $C\to R(D)$ corresponds to a map $h:C\times A\to B$. Its evaluation respects coalgebra structure exactly whenUnder the displayed transpositions this is precisely the condition that it equalize $\hat{p},\hat{q}$. Thus ${\mathcal{E}}^G(C,H)\cong {\mathcal{E}}^G(C\times A,B)$ naturally, and $H$ is the required exponential in a coalgebra topos.

Let $\kappa :G\Omega \to \Omega$ classify $G\top :G1\cong 1\hookrightarrow G\Omega$. In $R(\Omega )$ take the equalizerThe truth map into $R(\Omega )$ is $G\top$ and factors through this equalizer. To verify its universal property, take an underlying subobject $m:S\hookrightarrow A$ of a coalgebra. It carries a compatible coalgebra structure exactly when $a$ maps $S$ into $GS$. Such a structure, if it exists, is unique because $Gm$ is monic; its laws follow by cancellation of $m,Gm,G^{2}m$. Moreover $a^{-1}(GS)\subseteq S$ always: applying ${\epsilon }_A$ to a point of $GS$ lands in $S$. Thus stability is equivalent to $S=a^{-1}(GS)$.

If $\chi :A\to \Omega$ classifies $S$, this last equality is exactlyThe cofree transpose $\hat{\chi }=G\chi a:A\to R(\Omega )$ satisfies this equation precisely when it factors through ${\Omega }_G$. Indeed transposing the equality $\hat{\chi }=G\kappa {\delta }_{\Omega }\hat{\chi }$ gives the equation above. Pulling back its truth map recovers $S$, because $\kappa$ classifies $G\top$. Hence ${\Omega }_G$ is the subobject classifier of a coalgebra topos. We have obtained finite limits, exponentials and a classifier, proving ${\mathcal{E}}^G$ is a topos.

Now let $f:\mathcal{H}\to \mathcal{E}$ be a geometric morphism, and put $L=f^{\ast }$, $V=f_{\ast }$, with unit $\eta$. Both functors preserve finite limits, so $G=LV$ is a Cartesian comonad on $\mathcal{H}$. Put $\mathcal{D}={\mathcal{H}}^G$. Its comparison functoris left exact and has right adjointTo check the adjunction, transpose an underlying map $LX\to A$ to $X\to VA$. The coalgebra-morphism equation becomes exactly the equality of the two composites into $VLVA$, so the transposed arrow factors uniquely through the displayed equalizer.

The counit $KJ(A,a)\to (A,a)$ is invertible. Applying $L$ to the defining equalizer gives the equalizer of $Ga,{\delta }_A:GA\rightrightarrows G^{2}A$. The structure map $a:A\to GA$ is exactly that equalizer: it equalizes by coassociativity; if $t:T\to GA$ equalizes, apply ${\epsilon }_{GA}$ to obtain $t=a{\epsilon }_{A}t$, giving its unique factorization through $a$. Thus the underlying comparison counit is an isomorphism, and the forgetful functor reflects isomorphisms. Therefore $J$ is full and faithful.

The adjunctions $U⊣R$ and $K⊣J$ defineHere $p^{\ast }=U$ is faithful, so $p$ is a surjective geometric morphism; $i_{\ast }=J$ is full and faithful, so $i$ is a geometric embedding. Their inverse-image composite is $UK=L$, establishing the surjection-embedding factorization of a geometric morphism.

For uniqueness, let $S$ be the class of arrows in $\mathcal{E}$ inverted by $f^{\ast }$. In any surjection-embedding factorization $f=i^{\prime }{p}^{\prime }$, conservativity of $p^{\prime \ast }$ shows that $S$ is also the class inverted by $i^{\prime \ast }$. The essential image of the fully faithful $i_{\ast }^{\prime }$ consists exactly of the $S$-local objects $Y$, namely those for which $\mathcal{E}(B,Y)\to \mathcal{E}(A,Y)$ is bijective for every $A\to B$ in $S$. One direction follows from the adjunction. For the converse, the reflector unit $Y\to i_{\ast }^{\prime }{i}^{\prime \ast }Y$ belongs to $S$; locality gives a retraction, and locality of the reflected object makes that retraction also a right inverse. Thus the unit is invertible. The image subcategory is consequently determined by $f$, independently of the factorization. The two intermediate toposes are equivalent over $\mathcal{E}$, and their inverse-image composites with the embeddings determine the surjection legs. This proves uniqueness up to equivalence.

A local operator is an inflationary, idempotent, finite-meet-preserving map $j:\Omega \to \Omega$ with $j(\top )=\top$, expressed in the internal logic of a topos. For a subterminal object $U$ with truth value $u$, the closed local operator and quasi-closed local operator are respectivelyThe first is a local operator by distributivity. For the second put $n(p)=p\Rightarrow u$. Then $p\le n^{2}p$, $n$ is order-reversing, and $n^{3}p=np$: the first inequality gives $n^{3}p\le np$, while its application to $np$ gives the reverse inequality. Thus $q=n^2$ is inflationary and idempotent, and $q(\top )=\top$.

For meet preservation, monotonicity gives $q(p\wedge r)\le qp\wedge qr$. Conversely put $t=(p\wedge r)\Rightarrow u$. From $t\wedge p\le r\Rightarrow u$ and $qr\wedge (r\Rightarrow u)\le u$, we obtain $t\wedge qr\le p\Rightarrow u$. Intersecting with $qp$ gives $qp\wedge qr\wedge t\le u$, hence $qp\wedge qr\le q(p\wedge r)$. This proves all local-operator axioms. Also $q(u)(0)=u$ and $q(u)(u)=u$. Equivalently, it is the largest local operator leaving $u$ fixed: if $k(u)=u$, thenThis explains the quasi-closed terminology as relative double negation above the closed bottom $u$.

The subobject classifier of ${\mathbf{sh}}_j(\mathcal{E})$ is the closed-subobject classifier ${\Omega }_j=\{p:jp=p\}$. Its bottom is $j0$, its meet is inherited, its join is $j(p\vee r)$, and implication between closed truth values is the ambient implication. To verify the last claim, if $jv=v$, thenIt follows that $j(p\Rightarrow v)\le jp\Rightarrow v\le p\Rightarrow v$; inflationarity gives equality and also $jp\Rightarrow v=p\Rightarrow v$.

Suppose $j=q(u)$. Every closed $p$ lies above $u$, and its complement in ${\Omega }_j$ is $np=p\Rightarrow u$, also closed because $n^3=n$. We have $p\wedge np=u$. Moreover $n(p\vee np)=np\wedge n^{2}p=np\wedge p=u$, so $q(p\vee np)=\top$. Thus the fixed truth values form a Boolean algebra, and the sheaf topos is a Boolean topos.

Conversely suppose the sheaf topos is Boolean and put $u=j0$. Complementation in its classifier is $p\mapsto p\Rightarrow u$. Applying the double-complement identity to $jp$, and using the implication calculation above, givesTherefore

For the cover, work in the slice category $\mathcal{E}/\Omega$. Its generic subterminal object is $T=(\top :1\hookrightarrow \Omega )$. Form its quasi-closed Boolean subtopos $\mathcal{B}={\mathbf{sh}}_{q(T)}(\mathcal{E}/\Omega )$, and compose its embedding with the slice projection to obtain $b:\mathcal{B}\to \mathcal{E}$. The slice projection has inverse image $X\mapsto X\times \Omega$, and sheafification is left exact, so this is a geometric morphism.

To prove surjectivity, take a monomorphism $S\hookrightarrow X$ with characteristic predicate $p(x)$, and suppose $b^{\ast }$ makes it invertible. Pullback to the slice followed by sheafification makes this exactly the assertion that it is $q(T)$-dense. Internally on $X\times \Omega$, therefore,for the generic truth value $u$. Substitute $u=p(x)$ by pulling back along the graph $X\to X\times \Omega$. The left side becomes $(\top \Rightarrow p(x))=p(x)$, so $p(x)=\top$ and the original mono is invertible. Thus $b^{\ast }$ reflects invertible monos. If it identifies two parallel arrows, their equalizer becomes invertible; reflection then shows the arrows were already equal. Hence $b^{\ast }$ is faithful, andThe generic truth value is essential: substituting only a fixed global value such as $0$ would give a Boolean subtopos, but need not give a surjection onto the original topos.

A signature $\Sigma$ specifies sorts, finite-arity function symbols and finite-arity relation symbols. A coherent formula is built from atomic relations and equality using $\top ,\perp$, finite conjunction, finite disjunction and existential quantification. A coherent theory consists of coherent sequents $\varphi {⊢}_{\vec{x}}\psi$ in finite typed contexts. The context expresses universal quantification of the free variables; unrestricted universal quantification or negation is not a formula constructor here.

Construct the coherent syntactic category ${\mathcal{C}}_{\mathbb{T}}$ as follows. Objects are formulas in context $\{\vec{x}.\varphi \}$, modulo renaming and provable equivalence. An arrow to $\{\vec{y}.\psi \}$ is a formula $\rho (\vec{x},\vec{y})$, modulo provable equivalence, for which the theory provesThese say that the relation is supported on the specified objects, total and single-valued. The identity is equality on the context, and composition isThe logical rules give associativity and the identity laws. The empty-context true formula is terminal; conjunction in disjoint contexts gives products; conjunction with equality of the two functional relations gives equalizers. Existential quantification gives images, and finite disjunction gives unions of subobjects. Substitution preserves these constructions, so images and unions are stable under pullback. This makes ${\mathcal{C}}_{\mathbb{T}}$ a coherent category.

Let $M$ be a $\mathbb{T}$-model in a topos $\mathcal{E}$. Interpret each context as a finite product of its sort objects and each formula as its corresponding subobject. DefineThe interpretation of an arrow relation $\rho$ is a total single-valued relation between these objects. Its projection to the domain is both an epimorphism, by totality, and a monomorphism, by single-valuedness, hence invertible in a topos. Its other projection therefore determines a unique morphism. Composition agrees with relational composition, so $F_M$ is a functor. Finite limits interpret equality and conjunction; images interpret existential quantification; finite unions interpret disjunction, including the empty union for $\perp$. Consequently $F_M$ is a coherent functor.

Conversely there is a canonical syntactic model $U$ in ${\mathcal{C}}_{\mathbb{T}}$. Interpret a sort $s$ by $\{x:s.\top \}$, a function symbol by its term graph, and a relation symbol by its atomic formula-in-context subobject. Induction on formulas identifies the interpretation of every $\varphi$ in $U$ with its formula-in-context object. Every axiom is then an inclusion of the associated subobjects, because it is provable in $\mathbb{T}$.

For a coherent functor $F:{\mathcal{C}}_{\mathbb{T}}\to \mathcal{E}$, set $M_F=F(U)$. Preservation of finite limits, images and unions proves inductively that $F$ preserves all coherent interpretations, so every axiom holds in $M_F$. The same induction supplies natural isomorphismscompatible with the functional relations defining arrows. Thus $F\cong F_{M_F}$; directly on the sorts, operations and relations, $M_{F_M}\cong M$.

Finally these constructions agree on morphisms. A model homomorphism $h:M\to N$ induces maps on finite contexts. Atomic relations are preserved by definition; finite conjunction and disjunction and existential witnesses then show that each formula object maps to the corresponding formula object. Compatibility with functional relations makes these maps a natural transformation $F_M\to F_N$. Conversely a natural transformation between coherent functors restricts to its components on sort objects; naturality for term graphs preserves operations, and naturality for relation inclusions preserves relations. It is therefore a model homomorphism. The two correspondences are inverse. We have proved the categorical, not merely objectwise, equivalence

A coverage on a category specifies covering families stable under refinement along arrows: if $(f_i:C_i\to C)$ covers and $h:B\to C$ is any arrow, there is a covering family $(g_j:B_j\to B)$ such that every $h{g}_j$ factors through some $f_i$. Equivalently one works with the associated saturated covering sieves on a category, satisfying maximality, pullback stability and local transitivity. These determine the same sheaves on a site. We use this sieve on a category formulation of $J$.

An object is a J-irreducible object of a site if its only covering sieve on a category is the maximal sieve on a category. The coverage on a category is a rigid coverage if every object is covered by the sieve on a category generated by arrows whose domains are J-irreducible.

Assume $\mathcal{C}$ has finitely many arrows and every idempotent morphism splits. There are finitely many sieves on a category on each object $C$, so the intersection of all covering sieves on a category is a covering sieve on a category $R_C$: finite intersections of covers are covers by the topology axioms. It is the least cover. Let $I$ be the collection of all arrows $f:B\to C$ lying in $R_C$. This is an idempotent ideal in a finite category.

Here are the details. It is closed under precomposition because $R_C$ is a sieve on a category. For $h:C\to D$, the sieve on a category $h^{\ast }{R}_D$ covers $C$; minimality gives $R_C\subseteq h^{\ast }{R}_D$, so $hf\in R_D$. Thus it is also closed under postcomposition. Local transitivity says that the sieve on a categorycovers $C$. It is contained in $R_C$, while minimality gives the opposite inclusion. Hence $S_C=R_C$, or $I^2=I$.

We prove that such an ideal is generated by the identities it contains. Take $f\in I$. Since $I^2=I$, repeatedly factor its remaining right factor to obtainwith every factor in $I$. Write $p_n=a_1\cdots a_n$. Finiteness gives $p_i=p_j$ for some $i<j$. Their domains coincide, and $t=a_{i+1}\cdots a_j$ is an endomorphism in $I$ satisfying $p_{i}t=p_i$. Some positive power $e=t^m$ is idempotent: the powers are eventually periodic, so choose $m$ beyond the eventual threshold and divisible by its period. Then $p_{i}e=p_i$. Split $e=ir$ with $i:B\to \mathrm{dom}(p_i)$, $r:\mathrm{dom}(p_i)\to B$ and $ri=1_B$. Since $I$ is a two-sided ideal,Thus $f$ factors through an object $B$ whose identity lies in $I$. The latter means $1_B\in R_B$, hence $R_B=yB$; every covering sieve on a category on $B$ must therefore be maximal. So $B$ is J-irreducible.

Every arrow of $R_C$ consequently factors through a J-irreducible object. The sieve on a category generated by arrows from all such objects contains $R_C$ and is a cover. This proves every coverage on the finite idempotent-complete category is rigid. If $R_C$ is empty, the same conclusion holds because the empty sieve on a category already covers $C$.

Let $\mathcal{D}$ be the full subcategory of J-irreducible objects. For a covering sieve on a category $S$ on $C$ and any $f:D\to C$ with $D\in \mathcal{D}$, the pulled-back sieve on a category $f^{\ast }S$ covers $D$ and is maximal, so $f\in S$. Therefore $S{|}_{\mathcal{D}}=yC{|}_{\mathcal{D}}$. For a categorical presheaf $F$ on $\mathcal{D}$, define its extension byThis is the right Kan extension along the inclusion. Its adjunction giveswhich is precisely unique amalgamation on $S$. Hence $H_F$ is a sheaf. The Yoneda lemma gives $H_F(D)\cong F(D)$ for $D\in \mathcal{D}$.

Conversely, if $G$ is a sheaf, its sections on all arrows from $\mathcal{D}$ into $C$ determine a section on their covering sieve on a category. A compatible family extends to an arrow factoring through such a $D$ by restriction from its given $D$-section. If an arrow has two factorizations, restrict to the covering sieve on a category generated by arrows from $\mathcal{D}$ into its domain; compatibility makes the two restrictions equal, and the sheaf's uniqueness of amalgamation makes the sections equal. The resulting matching family glues uniquely over $C$. Thus $G(C)\cong \mathrm{Nat}(yC{|}_{\mathcal{D}},G{|}_{\mathcal{D}})$. Restriction and $F\mapsto H_F$ are inverse up to natural isomorphism, proving

Work internally with the Heyting algebra $\Omega$ and the truth value $u$ of $U\hookrightarrow 1$. For $o(u)(p)=u\Rightarrow p$, the identitiesprove that it is an open local operator.

For a monomorphism $m:S\hookrightarrow X$ with characteristic map $\chi$, density means $u\Rightarrow \chi =\top$, equivalently $u\le \chi$. This says exactly that $U\times X$ is contained in $S$, or that the pullback mono $U\times S\to U\times X$ is invertible. Consequently

An object $X$ is an $o(U)$-sheaf exactly when the canonical map ${\eta }_X:X\to X^U$, taking a value to its constant function on $U$, is invertible. Indeed $T\times U\hookrightarrow T$ is dense for every $T$. The sheaf condition makes $\mathcal{E}(T,X)\to \mathcal{E}(T\times U,X)\cong \mathcal{E}(T,X^U)$ bijective for every $T$, which proves ${\eta }_X$ invertible by the Yoneda lemma. Conversely, if ${\eta }_X$ is invertible and $m:S\hookrightarrow T$ is dense, the isomorphism $S\times U\cong T\times U$ givesso $X$ is a sheaf.

The pullback functor $L:\mathcal{E}\to \mathcal{E}/U$ has right adjoint ${\Pi }_U$, sending $A\to U$ to $A^U$. Every map $X\times U\to A$ is automatically over $U$, since $U$ is subterminal object, proving this adjunction directly. Its counit $U\times A^U\to A$ is evaluation and is invertible. The inverse sends $a\in A$ to its image in $U$ together with the constant function $U\to A$ of value $a$; all elements of $U$ agree, so the composites are identities. The right adjoint is therefore full and faithful, and its image consists of objects fixed by $X\to X^U$. The sheaf characterization above proves

For a general local operator $j$, its dense monomorphism classifier is the ordered subobjectA mono is j-dense exactly when its characteristic map factors through $J$. If $j=o(u)$, then $J=\{p:u\le p\}$, which has least element $u$. This is least internally over every parameter object, not just among global points.

Conversely suppose a global $u:1\to J$ is internally least. Upward closure of $J$ gives $jp=\top$ exactly when $u\le p$, in every context. For $S\hookrightarrow X$ let $\overline{S}$ be its $j$-closure, with characteristic predicate $jp$. The mono $S\hookrightarrow \overline{S}$ is dense: restricting $jp$ to $\overline{S}$ gives truth. Its characteristic map therefore lands in $J$, so leastness of $u$ gives $U\cap \overline{S}\subseteq S$. Internally this isOn the other hand $ju=\top$, and applying $j$ to $u\wedge (u\Rightarrow p)\le p$ gives $j(u\Rightarrow p)\le jp$. Inflationarity then gives $u\Rightarrow p\le jp$. Both inequalities yieldThis proves the least dense truth characterizes an open local operator criterion without replacing its internal order condition by the weaker condition on global truth values.

Use one ring sort with $0,1,+,-,\cdot$ and the usual unital commutative ring equations. Write $\mathrm{Inv}(x)$ for the coherent formula $\exists y(xy=1)$. Add the coherent sequentsThis presents the coherent theory of local rings. For an ordinary nonzero ring satisfying these axioms, the nonunits form an ideal: a multiple of a nonunit cannot be a unit; and if nonunits $a,b$ had unit sum, multiplying by $(a+b{)}^{-1}$ would make two nonunits sum to $1$, contradicting the second axiom. They are also closed under additive inverses. This proper ideal contains every proper ideal, since a proper ideal contains no unit, and its quotient is a field; it is the unique maximal ideal. Conversely in a local ring, $x$ and $1-x$ cannot both belong to the unique maximal ideal, so one is a unit. The first sequent excludes the zero ring. In a topos, the disjunction asserts that these unit alternatives hold locally.

Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a small skeleton of the opposite of the category of finitely presented unital commutative rings; write $C_A$ for the object corresponding to $A$. The Zariski coverage on finitely presented rings is generated byand the empty cover of $C_0$. Localization is finitely presented, and its compatibility with base change proves the covering axioms.

Here is the classifying argument. For an internal commutative ring $M$ and a presentation $A=\mathbb{Z}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]/(p_1,\dots ,p_r)$, define $F_M(C_A)$ as the subobject of $M^n$ satisfying the polynomial equations $p_i=0$. Ring maps induce maps of these solution objects in the site direction. This is independent of presentation, and it preserves finite limits: finite colimits of finitely presented rings correspond to joining finite generators and equations, whose solution objects are finite limits. Conversely a left-exact functor $F:\mathcal{C}\to \mathcal{E}$ reconstructs a commutative ring $F(C_{\mathbb{Z}[t]})$ using the polynomial maps for addition, multiplication, constants and additive inverse. Presentations by generators and equations then show $F\cong F_M$. Thus flat functors on $\mathcal{C}$ correspond to internal commutative rings.

Under $F_M$, the localization arrow above identifies its domain with the locus where $f_i$ evaluates to a unit; the inverse witness is unique. The family is jointly epimorphic exactly when these unit loci cover the solution object for $A$. The locality axiom implies this for every unit-ideal family: from a finite sum $\sum f_i{g}_i=1$, repeatedly apply the two-summand unit alternative, rescaling a unit partial sum when necessary; some $f_i{g}_i$, hence some $f_i$, is a unit locally. Conversely the cover of $\mathbb{Z}[t]$ by its localizations at $t$ and $1-t$ gives precisely the locality axiom, while the empty cover of the zero ring gives $0=1⊢\perp$. Therefore continuous flat functors are exactly models of the displayed coherent theory. The Diaconescu equivalence for geometric morphisms now identifiesnaturally in $\mathcal{E}$. This proves the asserted classifying topos identification.

Since the site is subcanonical, the generic local ring is the representable sheafIts ring operations are induced by polynomial substitution. Its infinitesimal subobject is likewise representable:Products of representables correspond to tensor products of their rings. For every finitely presented $A$, exponential adjunction and the Yoneda lemma giveEvery element of this ring has a unique expression $a+b\epsilon$, because $1,\epsilon$ form an $A$-basis. This holds even when $A$ has nilpotents or zero divisors. The expression is natural under every ring homomorphism $A\to B$, which sends its two coefficients to their images. The canonical morphism $R\times R\to R^D$, transposed from $(a,b,d)\mapsto a+bd$, is consequently a bijection at every stage $C_A$, with a natural inverse extracting the coefficients. ThereforeThis proves the Kock-Lawvere axiom for the generic local ring. The uniqueness is an internal sheaf assertion tested at all finitely presented rings, including the ring with its generic square-zero element; restricting the test to fields would lose that element and would not prove uniqueness.