Non-effective deformations of Grothendieck's Hilbert functor (Q2471024)

Let \(X\) be a scheme, locally of finite type over a locally noetherian scheme \(S\), and let \({ F}:={Hilb}_{X/S}\) be Grothendieck's Hilbert functor, i.e. the set \({\mathcal F}(T)\) consists of closed schemes of \( Z \subseteq X \times_S T\) which are flat and of proper support over \(T\). If \(X\) is quasiprojective (resp. separable) over \(S\), then the Hilbert funcor \(\text{Hilb}_{X/S}\) is representable by a quasiprojective scheme (resp. an algebraic space) due to fundamental theorems of \textit{A. Grothendieck} [Sem. Bourbaki 13(1960/61), No. 221 (1961; Zbl 0236.14003)] and \textit{A. Artin} [in: Global Analysis, Papers in Honor of K. Kodaira, 21--71 (1969; Zbl 0205.50402)]. One of Artin's necessary conditions for e.g. \({\mathcal F}\) to be representable, is that formal deformations are effective, i.e. that the map \({\mathcal F}(A) \to {\displaystyle\lim_{\longleftarrow}}{\mathcal F}(A/m^n)\) is surjective for any complete local ring \((A,m)\). The authors of this paper show that if \(X\) is not separated over \(S\), then the Hilbert functor \(\text{Hilb}_{X/S}^1\) of one point has non-effective formal deformations. Thus \(\text{Hilb}_{X/S}^1\) is not representable by a scheme or an algebraic space. Indeed \(\text{Hilb}_{X/S}^1 \simeq {\Hom}_S(-,X)\) if and only if \(X\to S\) is separated.