Families of zero cycles and divided powers: I. Representability

Abstract: For any separated algebraic space

X / S

we construct a separated algebraic space

G a m m a^{d} (X / S)

-- the space of divided powers -- which parameterizes zero cycles of degree

d

on

X

. The space of divided powers for an affine scheme is given by the spectrum of the algebra of divided powers. In characteristic zero or when

X / S

is flat, the constructed space coincides with the symmetric product

S y m^{d} (X / S)

. We also prove several fundamental results on the kernels of multiplicative polynomial laws necessary for the construction of

G a m m a^{d} (X / S)

.

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