Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 iii Paper 113 2 b Solution 2026-09-28
Write for . For any closed point , the fiber is the zero-dimensional closed subscheme of cut out by . It is finite over , and every finite morphism is proper. This includes , whose fiber in consists only of .
The morphism itself fails the valuative criterion for properness. Take the discrete valuation ring with fraction field . The -point lies in and lies over the -point of the target defined byAny extension of that -point must still be given by , whose closed point maps to the deleted point . It therefore cannot factor through . The required lift does not exist, so is not proper. This is an instance of the fact that proper closed-point fibers do not imply properness.