Formal and rigid geometry. II: Flattening techniques (Q1318066)

This is a sequel to part I by the same authors [cf. Math. Ann. 295, No. 2, 291-317 (1993; see the preceding review)]. The main theorem, which was announced by Raynaud, says that a flat morphism between quasi-compact rigid spaces is induced by a flat morphism between suitable formal schemes. The theorem is proved in the general situation in which the base is an arbitrary complete noetherian ring. -- The proof of the theorem is an application of techniques which are developed in the first part of the paper. These include lifting techniques in formal geometry and the flattening technique of Gruson and Raynaud.