Purity of crystalline strata (Q1728142)

Let \(p\) be a prime number, let \(n\ge1\) be a natural number and let \(\mathcal{C}\) be an \(F^n\)-crystal over a locally noetherian \(\mathbb{F}_p\)-scheme \(S\). Let then \((a,b)\in\mathbb{N}^2\). The main result of this paper asserts that the reduced locus \(T\subseteq S\) where the Newton polygon of \(\mathcal{C}\) has a break point at \((a,b)\) is ``pure'' in \(S\), that is, it is an affine \(S\)-scheme. This upgrades a previous theorem from [\textit{Y. Yang}, Münster J. Math. 4, No. 1, 129--140 (2011; Zbl 1259.14019)] which established a weaker purity property for \(T\subseteq S\). In order to achieve the above result, the authors first perform some significant reduction steps, then identify \(T\) with a closed subscheme of an affine \(S\)-group-scheme, itself representing certain homomorphisms of \(F^n\)-crystals. This kind of group scheme was already considered in [\textit{A. Vasiu}, Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 39, No. 2, 245--300 (2006; Zbl 1143.14037)], paper which, along with [\textit{N. M. Katz}, Astérisque 63, 113--164 (1979; Zbl 0426.14007)], provides some essential inputs to the proof in question. From the main theorem the authors deduce two corollaries, ensuring respectively the purity of each Newton stratum of \(S\) and, for \(m\in\mathbb{N}\), of the reduced locus \(S_m\subseteq S\) where the \(p\)-rank of \(\mathcal{C}\) is exactely \(m\). These statements upgrade previously known results, limited to the case \(n=1\) or to a weaker form of purity. The paper also provides an independent proof of the second corollary, based on the notion of ``functorial Artin-Schreier stratification'', concept introduced and studied in [\textit{A. Vasiu}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 685, 181--247 (2013; Zbl 1309.14035)] and further developed here. The contents of this work may find application in the study of the special fibre of Shimura varieties of Hodge type.