Exceptional complete intersection maps of local rings (Q2168221)

Let \(f: R\rightarrow S\) be an epimorphism of commutative noetherian local rings. Then \(f\) is said to be ``complete intersection'' if \(\mathrm{Ker}(f)\) is generated by a regular sequence on \(R\). In particular, \(f\) is said to be ``exceptional complete intersection'' if \(\mathrm{Ker}(f)\) is generated by a regular sequence on \(R\) that is part of a minimal generating set for the maximal ideal of \(R\). Such maps arise naturally in various contexts; for example, the diagonal of a smooth map has this property locally. On the other hand, for each \(S\)-complex \(X\), there is a naturally defined morphism in the derived category \(\mathcal{D}(S)\) called the ``truncated Atiyah class'' of \(f\) at \(X\) and denoted by \(\mathrm{at}^{f}(X)\). The authors prove the following characterization of exceptional complete intersection maps. Theorem. Let \(f: R\rightarrow S\) be an epimorphism of commutative noetherian local rings, and \(k\) the common residue field of \(R\) and \(S\). Then the following assertions are equivalent: \begin{itemize} \item[(i)] \(f\) is exceptional complete intersection. \item[(ii)] \(\mathrm{pd}_{R}(S)< \infty\) and \(\mathrm{at}^{f}(k)=0\). \end{itemize} Using this result, they further establish the following characterization of exceptional complete intersection maps. Theorem. Let \(f: R\rightarrow S\) be an epimorphism of commutative noetherian local rings. Then the following assertions are equivalent: \begin{itemize} \item[(i)] \(f\) is exceptional complete intersection. \item[(ii)] \(\mathrm{pd}_{R}(S)< \infty\) and the restriction of scalars functor \(f_{\ast}:\mathcal{D}^{\mathrm{fl}}_{\square}(S)\rightarrow \mathcal{D}^{\mathrm{fl}}_{\square}(R)\) induces an isomorphism between the lattices of thick subcategories. \end{itemize}