In algebraic geometry, the Quot scheme is a scheme parametrizing sheaves on a projective scheme. More specifically, if X is a projective scheme over a Noetherian scheme S and if F is a coherent sheaf on X, then there is a scheme whose set of T-points is the set of isomorphism classes of the quotients of that are flat over T. The notion was introduced by Alexander Grothendieck.[1]
It is typically used to construct another scheme parametrizing geometric objects that are of interest such as a Hilbert scheme. (In fact, taking F to be the structure sheaf gives a Hilbert scheme.)
where and under the projection . There is an equivalence relation given by if there is an isomorphism commuting with the two projections ; that is,
is a commutative diagram for . Alternatively, there is an equivalent condition of holding . This is called the quot functor which has a natural stratification into a disjoint union of subfunctors, each of which is represented by a projective -scheme called the quot scheme associated to a Hilbert polynomial .
which is a polynomial for . This is called the Hilbert polynomial which gives a natural stratification of the quot functor. Again, for fixed there is a disjoint union of subfunctors
where
The Hilbert polynomial is the Hilbert polynomial of for closed points . Note the Hilbert polynomial is independent of the choice of very ample line bundle .
Grothendieck's existence theoremedit
It is a theorem of Grothendieck's that the functors are all representable by projective schemes over .
Examplesedit
Grassmannianedit
The Grassmannian of -planes in an -dimensional vector space has a universal quotient
where is the -plane represented by . Since is locally free and at every point it represents a -plane, it has the constant Hilbert polynomial . This shows represents the quot functor
Projective spaceedit
As a special case, we can construct the project space as the quot scheme
for a sheaf on an -scheme .
Hilbert schemeedit
The Hilbert scheme is a special example of the quot scheme. Notice a subscheme can be given as a projection
and a flat family of such projections parametrized by a scheme can be given by
Since there is a hilbert polynomial associated to , denoted , there is an isomorphism of schemes
Example of a parameterizationedit
If and for an algebraically closed field, then a non-zero section has vanishing locus with Hilbert polynomial
Then, there is a surjection
with kernel . Since was an arbitrary non-zero section, and the vanishing locus of for gives the same vanishing locus, the scheme gives a natural parameterization of all such sections. There is a sheaf on such that for any , there is an associated subscheme and surjection . This construction represents the quot functor
Quadrics in the projective planeedit
If and , the Hilbert polynomial is
and
The universal quotient over is given by
where the fiber over a point gives the projective morphism
For example, if represents the coefficients of
then the universal quotient over gives the short exact sequence
Semistable vector bundles on a curveedit
Semistable vector bundles on a curve of genus can equivalently be described as locally free sheaves of finite rank. Such locally free sheaves of rank and degree have the properties[5]
^Grothendieck, Alexander. Techniques de construction et théorèmes d'existence en géométrie algébrique IV : les schémas de Hilbert. Séminaire Bourbaki : années 1960/61, exposés 205-222, Séminaire Bourbaki, no. 6 (1961), Talk no. 221, p. 249-276
^Nitsure, Nitin (2005). "Construction of Hilbert and Quot Schemes". Fundamental algebraic geometry: Grothendieck’s FGA explained. Mathematical Surveys and Monographs. Vol. 123. American Mathematical Society. pp. 105–137. arXiv:math/0504590. ISBN 978-0-8218-4245-4.
^Altman, Allen B.; Kleiman, Steven L. (1980). "Compactifying the Picard scheme". Advances in Mathematics. 35 (1): 50–112. doi:10.1016/0001-8708(80)90043-2. ISSN 0001-8708.
^Meaning a basis for the global sections defines an embedding for
^ abcHoskins, Victoria. "Moduli Problems and Geometric Invariant Theory" (PDF). pp. 68, 74–85. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2020.