Simultaneous normalization and algebra husks (Q428173)

A morphism \(X\rightarrow S\) with fibers \(\{X_s:s\in S\}\) is said to have a simultaneous normalization if the normalizations of the fibers \(\{\bar{X}_s:s\in S\}\) fit together to form a flat family over \(S\). A well known result of Hironaka says that if \(S\) is regular, the fibers \(X_s\) are generically reduced, and the reductions of the fibers \(\text{red} X_s\) are normal, then \(\text{red} X\rightarrow S\) is flat with normal fibers. For projective morphisms, a global condition for the existence of the simultaneous normalizations was developed by Chiang-Hsieh and Lipman: When \(S\) is normal with perfect residue fields and \(X\rightarrow S\) has reduced fibers, then a simultaneous normalization exists iff the Hilbert polynomials of the normalizations of the fibers are all the same. The article contains a proof of this result. When this condition fails, a simultaneous normalization exists for some families, but not for others. The main result of the article is an analogue of the Flattening decomposition theorem of Mumford, giving a precise description of those subfamilies that have simultaneous normalization: Let \(f:X\rightarrow S\) be a proper morphism whose fibers \(X_s\) are generically geometrically reduced. Then there is a morphism \(\pi: S^n\rightarrow S\) such that for any \(g:T\rightarrow S\), the fiber product \(X\times_S T\rightarrow T\) has a simultaneous normalization iff \(g\) factors through \(\pi:S^n\rightarrow S\), that is, \(\pi:S^n\rightarrow S\) represents the functor of simultaneous normalizations. The key technical step of the proof is to consider all algebra husks of \(\mathcal O_Y\): Let \(X\) be a scheme over a field \(k\) and let \(F\) be a coherent sheaf on \(X\). Set \(n:=\dim\text{Supp} F\). A husk of \(F\) is a quasi coherent sheaf \(G\) together with a homomorphism \(q:F\rightarrow G\) such that \(G\) has no associated primes of dimension \(<n\), and \(q\) is an isomorphism at all points of \(X\) of dimension\(=n\). When \(F\) is a sheaf of algebras, this translates to algebra husks. Assume that \(X\) is pure dimensional and generically reduced. Then every coherent algebra husk of \(\mathcal O_X\) is contained in the structure sheaf \(\mathcal O_{\bar X}\) of the normalization. If \(X\) is of finite type over a field \(k\), then \(\mathcal O_{\bar X}\) is coherent as an \(\mathcal O_X\)-module. In these cases, \(\mathcal O_{\bar X}\) is the universal algebra husk of \(\mathcal O_X\). The relative version of husks is given by the following: Let \(f:X\rightarrow S\) be a morphism and \(F\) a quasi coherent sheaf on \(X\). Let \(n\) be the relative dimension of \(\text{Supp}F\rightarrow S\). A husk of \(F\) over \(S\) is a quasi coherent sheaf \(G\) together with a homomorphism \(q:F\rightarrow G\) such that \(G\) is flat over \(S\) and \(q_s:F_s\rightarrow G_s\) is a husk for every \(s\in S\). Again, this translates to the algebra husk situation. Let \(f:X\rightarrow S\) be a morphism and \(F\) a coherent sheaf on \(X\). Then \(\text{Husk}(\ast)\) is the functor that to a scheme \(g:T\rightarrow S\) associates the set of all coherent husks of \(g^\ast_X F\) over \(T\) with proper support over \(T\), where \(g_X:T\times_S X\rightarrow X\) is the projection. Assume \(H\) is an \(f\)-ample divisor and \(p(t)\) a polynomial. Let \(\text{Husk}_p(F)(\ast)\) be the functor that to a scheme \(g:T\rightarrow S\) associates the set of all coherent husks of \(g_X^\ast F\) over \(T\) with Hilbert polynomial \(p(t)\). It is proved previously that \(\text{Husk}_p(F)\) has a fine moduli space \(\text{Husk}_p(F)\) which is an algebraic space over \(S\). The basic existence theorem asserts that similar results hold for algebra husks. To give the main result in a general form, the author gives the following definition of partial normalizations: Let \(P\) be a property of schemes or algebraic spaces satisfying the following conditions: 1. \(P\) is local, i.e., \(X\) satisfies \(P\) iff an open cover satifies \(P\) 2. \(P\) commutes with smooth morphisms 3. If the maximal dimensional generic points of \(X\) satisfy \(P\) then there is a unique smallest algebra husk \(\mathcal O_X\rightarrow(\mathcal O_X)^P\) such that \(X^P:=\text{Spec}(\mathcal O_X)^P\) satisfies \(P\). In this case \(X^P\rightarrow X\) is called the \(P\)-normalization of \(X\). 4. \(P\)-normalization is open, i.e. given \(X^\prime\rightarrow X\rightarrow S\) such that the composite \(X^\prime\rightarrow S\) is flat, the set of points \(x\in X\) such that \(X^\prime_s\rightarrow X_s\) is the \(P\)-normalization near \(x\) is open in \(X\). Then simultaneous \(P\)-normalization is defined as it must, and this main result is proved. The article is very nice, and very algebraic. Algebraic methods are used throughout, mainly using standard tools and results from commutative algebra. For example, to use the algebra husks to prove the main result, Noetherian induction is used throughout. Finally, some conjectures from the authors earlier work are proved by using the methods and results from this article.