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 \input{preamble} % OK, start here. % \begin{document} \title{Pro-\'etale Cohomology} \maketitle \phantomsection \label{section-phantom} \tableofcontents \section{Introduction} \label{section-introduction} \noindent The material in this chapter and more can be found in the preprint \cite{BS}. \medskip\noindent The goal of this chapter is to introduce the pro-\'etale topology and show how it simplifies the introduction of $\ell$-adic cohomology in algebraic geometry. \medskip\noindent A brief overview of the history of this material as we have understood it. In \cite[Expos\'es V and VI]{SGA5} Grothendieck et al developed a theory for dealing with $\ell$-adic sheaves as inverse systems of sheaves of $\mathbf{Z}/\ell^n\mathbf{Z}$-modules. In his second paper on the Weil conjectures (\cite{WeilII}) Deligne introduced a derived category of $\ell$-adic sheaves as a certain 2-limit of categories of complexes of sheaves of $\mathbf{Z}/\ell^n\mathbf{Z}$-modules on the \'etale site of a scheme $X$. This approach is used in the paper by Beilinson, Bernstein, and Deligne (\cite{BBD}) as the basis for their beautiful theory of perverse sheaves. In a paper entitled Continuous \'Etale Cohomology'' (\cite{Jannsen}) Uwe Jannsen discusses an important variant of the cohomology of a $\ell$-adic sheaf on a variety over a field. His paper is followed up by a paper of Torsten Ekedahl (\cite{Ekedahl}) who discusses the adic formalism needed to work comfortably with derived categories defined as limits. \medskip\noindent The goal of this chapter is to show that, if we work with the pro-\'etale site of a scheme, then one can avoid some of the technicalities these authors encountered. This comes at the expense of having to work with non-Noetherian schemes, even when one is only interested in working with $\ell$-adic sheaves and cohomology of such on varieties over an algebraically closed field. \section{Some topology} \label{section-topology} \noindent Some preliminaries. We have defined {\it spectral spaces} and {\it spectral maps} of spectral spaces in Topology, Section \ref{topology-section-spectral}. The spectrum of a ring is a spectral space, see Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-spec-spectral}. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-spectral-split} Let $X$ be a spectral space. Let $X_0 \subset X$ be the set of closed points. The following are equivalent \begin{enumerate} \item Every open covering of $X$ can be refined by a finite disjoint union decomposition $X = \coprod U_i$ with $U_i$ open and closed in $X$. \item The composition $X_0 \to X \to \pi_0(X)$ is bijective. \end{enumerate} Moreover, if $X_0$ is closed in $X$ and every point of $X$ specializes to a unique point of $X_0$, then these conditions are satisfied. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} We will use without further mention that $X_0$ is quasi-compact (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-closed-points-quasi-compact}) and $\pi_0(X)$ is profinite (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-spectral-pi0}). Picture $$\xymatrix{ X_0 \ar[rd]_f \ar[r] & X \ar[d]^\pi \\ & \pi_0(X) }$$ If (2) holds, the continuous bijective map $f : X_0 \to \pi_0(X)$ is a homeomorphism by Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-bijective-map}. Given an open covering $X = \bigcup U_i$, we get an open covering $\pi_0(X) = \bigcup f(X_0 \cap U_i)$. By Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-profinite-refine-open-covering} we can find a finite open covering of the form $\pi_0(X) = \coprod V_j$ which refines this covering. Since $X_0 \to \pi_0(X)$ is bijective each connected component of $X$ has a unique closed point, whence is equal to the set of points specializing to this closed point. Hence $\pi^{-1}(V_j)$ is the set of points specializing to the points of $f^{-1}(V_j)$. Now, if $f^{-1}(V_j) \subset X_0 \cap U_i \subset U_i$, then it follows that $\pi^{-1}(V_j) \subset U_i$ (because the open set $U_i$ is closed under generalizations). In this way we see that the open covering $X = \coprod \pi^{-1}(V_j)$ refines the covering we started out with. In this way we see that (2) implies (1). \medskip\noindent Assume (1). Let $x, y \in X$ be closed points. Then we have the open covering $X = (X \setminus \{x\}) \cup (X \setminus \{y\})$. It follows from (1) that there exists a disjoint union decomposition $X = U \amalg V$ with $U$ and $V$ open (and closed) and $x \in U$ and $y \in V$. In particular we see that every connected component of $X$ has at most one closed point. By Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-quasi-compact-closed-point} every connected component (being closed) also does have a closed point. Thus $X_0 \to \pi_0(X)$ is bijective. In this way we see that (1) implies (2). \medskip\noindent Assume $X_0$ is closed in $X$ and every point specializes to a unique point of $X_0$. Then $X_0$ is a spectral space (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-spectral-sub}) consisting of closed points, hence profinite (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-characterize-profinite-spectral}). Let $x, y \in X_0$ be distinct. By Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-profinite-refine-open-covering} we can find a disjoint union decomposition $X_0 = U_0 \amalg V_0$ with $U_0$ and $V_0$ open and closed. Let $\{U_i\}$ be the set of quasi-compact open subsets of $X$ such that $U_0 = X_0 \cap U_i$. Similarly, let $\{V_j\}$ be the set of quasi-compact open subsets of $X$ such that and $V_0 = X_0 \cap V_j$. If $U_i \cap V_j$ is nonempty for all $i, j$, then there exists a point $\xi$ contained in all of them (use the $U_i \cap V_j$ is constructible, hence closed in the constructible topology, and use Topology, Lemmas \ref{topology-lemma-constructible-hausdorff-quasi-compact} and \ref{topology-lemma-intersection-closed-in-quasi-compact}). However, since $X$ is sober and $V_0$ is closed in $X$, the intersection $\bigcap U_i$ is the set of points specializing to $U_0$. Similarly, $\bigcap V_j$ is the set of points specializing to $V_0$. Since $U_0 \cap V_0$ is empty this is a contradiction. Thus we find disjoint quasi-compact opens $U, V \subset X$ such that $U_0 = X_0 \cap U$ and $V_0 = X_0 \cap V$. Observe that $X = U \cup V = U \amalg V$ as $X_0 \subset U \cup V$ (use Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-quasi-compact-closed-point}). This proves that $x, y$ are not in the same connected component of $X$. In other words, $X_0 \to \pi_0(X)$ is injective. The map is also surjective by Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-quasi-compact-closed-point} and the fact that connected components are closed. In this way we see that the final condition implies (1). \end{proof} \begin{example} \label{example-not-w-local} Let $T$ be a profinite space. Let $t \in T$ be a point and assume that $T \setminus \{t\}$ is not quasi-compact. Let $X = T \times \{0, 1\}$. Consider the topology on $X$ with a subbase given by the sets $U \times \{0, 1\}$ for $U \subset T$ open, $X \setminus \{(t, 0)\}$, and $U \times \{1\}$ for $U \subset T$ open with $t \not \in U$. The set of closed points of $X$ is $X_0 = T \times \{0\}$ and $(t, 1)$ is in the closure of $X_0$. Moreover, $X_0 \to \pi_0(X)$ is a bijection. This example shows that conditions (1) and (2) of Lemma \ref{lemma-spectral-split} do no imply the set of closed points is closed. \end{example} \noindent It turns out it is more convenient to work with spectral spaces which have the slightly stronger property mentioned in the final statement of Lemma \ref{lemma-spectral-split}. We give this property a name. \begin{definition} \label{definition-w-local} A spectral space $X$ is {\it w-local} if the set of closed points $X_0$ is closed and every point of $X$ specializes to a unique closed point. A continuous map $f : X \to Y$ of w-local spaces is {\it w-local} if it is spectral and maps any closed point of $X$ to a closed point of $Y$. \end{definition} \noindent We have seen in the proof of Lemma \ref{lemma-spectral-split} that in this case $X_0 \to \pi_0(X)$ is a homeomorphism and that $X_0 \cong \pi_0(X)$ is a profinite space. Moreover, a connected component of $X$ is exactly the set of points specializing to a given $x \in X_0$. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-closed-subspace-w-local} Let $X$ be a w-local spectral space. If $Y \subset X$ is closed, then $Y$ is w-local. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The subset $Y_0 \subset Y$ of closed points is closed because $Y_0 = X_0 \cap Y$. Since $X$ is $w$-local, every $y \in Y$ specializes to a unique point of $X_0$. This specialization is in $Y$, and hence also in $Y_0$, because $\overline{\{y\}}\subset Y$. In conclusion, $Y$ is $w$-local. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-silly} Let $X$ be a spectral space. Let $$\xymatrix{ Y \ar[r] \ar[d] & T \ar[d] \\ X \ar[r] & \pi_0(X) }$$ be a cartesian diagram in the category of topological spaces with $T$ profinite. Then $Y$ is spectral and $T = \pi_0(Y)$. If moreover $X$ is w-local, then $Y$ is w-local, $Y \to X$ is w-local, and the set of closed points of $Y$ is the inverse image of the set of closed points of $X$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Note that $Y$ is a closed subspace of $X \times T$ as $\pi_0(X)$ is a profinite space hence Hausdorff (use Topology, Lemmas \ref{topology-lemma-spectral-pi0} and \ref{topology-lemma-fibre-product-closed}). Since $X \times T$ is spectral (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-product-spectral-spaces}) it follows that $Y$ is spectral (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-spectral-sub}). Let $Y \to \pi_0(Y) \to T$ be the canonical factorization (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-space-connected-components}). It is clear that $\pi_0(Y) \to T$ is surjective. The fibres of $Y \to T$ are homeomorphic to the fibres of $X \to \pi_0(X)$. Hence these fibres are connected. It follows that $\pi_0(Y) \to T$ is injective. We conclude that $\pi_0(Y) \to T$ is a homeomorphism by Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-bijective-map}. \medskip\noindent Next, assume that $X$ is w-local and let $X_0 \subset X$ be the set of closed points. The inverse image $Y_0 \subset Y$ of $X_0$ in $Y$ maps bijectively onto $T$ as $X_0 \to \pi_0(X)$ is a bijection by Lemma \ref{lemma-spectral-split}. Moreover, $Y_0$ is quasi-compact as a closed subset of the spectral space $Y$. Hence $Y_0 \to \pi_0(Y) = T$ is a homeomorphism by Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-bijective-map}. It follows that all points of $Y_0$ are closed in $Y$. Conversely, if $y \in Y$ is a closed point, then it is closed in the fibre of $Y \to \pi_0(Y) = T$ and hence its image $x$ in $X$ is closed in the (homeomorphic) fibre of $X \to \pi_0(X)$. This implies $x \in X_0$ and hence $y \in Y_0$. Thus $Y_0$ is the collection of closed points of $Y$ and for each $y \in Y_0$ the set of generalizations of $y$ is the fibre of $Y \to \pi_0(Y)$. The lemma follows. \end{proof} \section{Local isomorphisms} \label{section-local-isomorphism} \noindent We start with a definition. \begin{definition} \label{definition-local-isomorphism} Let $\varphi : A \to B$ be a ring map. \begin{enumerate} \item We say $A \to B$ is a {\it local isomorphism} if for every prime $\mathfrak q \subset B$ there exists a $g \in B$, $g \not \in \mathfrak q$ such that $A \to B_g$ induces an open immersion $\Spec(B_g) \to \Spec(A)$. \item We say $A \to B$ {\it identifies local rings} if for every prime $\mathfrak q \subset B$ the canonical map $A_{\varphi^{-1}(\mathfrak q)} \to B_\mathfrak q$ is an isomorphism. \end{enumerate} \end{definition} \noindent We list some elementary properties. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-base-change-local-isomorphism} Let $A \to B$ and $A \to A'$ be ring maps. Let $B' = B \otimes_A A'$ be the base change of $B$. \begin{enumerate} \item If $A \to B$ is a local isomorphism, then $A' \to B'$ is a local isomorphism. \item If $A \to B$ identifies local rings, then $A' \to B'$ identifies local rings. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-composition-local-isomorphism} Let $A \to B$ and $B \to C$ be ring maps. \begin{enumerate} \item If $A \to B$ and $B \to C$ are local isomorphisms, then $A \to C$ is a local isomorphism. \item If $A \to B$ and $B \to C$ identify local rings, then $A \to C$ identifies local rings. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-local-isomorphism-permanence} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $B \to C$ be an $A$-algebra homomorphism. \begin{enumerate} \item If $A \to B$ and $A \to C$ are local isomorphisms, then $B \to C$ is a local isomorphism. \item If $A \to B$ and $A \to C$ identify local rings, then $B \to C$ identifies local rings. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-local-isomorphism-implies} Let $A \to B$ be a local isomorphism. Then \begin{enumerate} \item $A \to B$ is \'etale, \item $A \to B$ identifies local rings, \item $A \to B$ is quasi-finite. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-structure-local-isomorphism} Let $A \to B$ be a local isomorphism. Then there exist $n \geq 0$, $g_1, \ldots, g_n \in B$, $f_1, \ldots, f_n \in A$ such that $(g_1, \ldots, g_n) = B$ and $A_{f_i} \cong B_{g_i}$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-fully-faithful-spaces-over-X} Let $p : (Y, \mathcal{O}_Y) \to (X, \mathcal{O}_X)$ and $q : (Z, \mathcal{O}_Z) \to (X, \mathcal{O}_X)$ be morphisms of locally ringed spaces. If $\mathcal{O}_Y = p^{-1}\mathcal{O}_X$, then $$\Mor_{\text{LRS}/(X, \mathcal{O}_X)}((Z, \mathcal{O}_Z), (Y, \mathcal{O}_Y)) \longrightarrow \Mor_{\textit{Top}/X}(Z, Y),\quad (f, f^\sharp) \longmapsto f$$ is bijective. Here $\text{LRS}/(X, \mathcal{O}_X)$ is the category of locally ringed spaces over $X$ and $\textit{Top}/X$ is the category of topological spaces over $X$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This is immediate from the definitions. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-local-isomorphism-fully-faithful} Let $A$ be a ring. Set $X = \Spec(A)$. The functor $$B \longmapsto \Spec(B)$$ from the category of $A$-algebras $B$ such that $A \to B$ identifies local rings to the category of topological spaces over $X$ is fully faithful. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This follows from Lemma \ref{lemma-fully-faithful-spaces-over-X} and the fact that if $A \to B$ identifies local rings, then the pullback of the structure sheaf of $\Spec(A)$ via $p : \Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ is equal to the structure sheaf of $\Spec(B)$. \end{proof} \section{Ind-Zariski algebra} \label{section-ind-zariski} \noindent We start with a definition; please see Remark \ref{remark-slightly-stronger} for a comparison with the corresponding definition of the article \cite{BS}. \begin{definition} \label{definition-ind-zariski} A ring map $A \to B$ is said to be {\it ind-Zariski} if $B$ can be written as a filtered colimit $B = \colim B_i$ with each $A \to B_i$ a local isomorphism. \end{definition} \noindent An example of an Ind-Zariski map is a localization $A \to S^{-1}A$, see Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-localization-colimit}. The category of ind-Zariski algebras is closed under several natural operations. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-base-change-ind-zariski} Let $A \to B$ and $A \to A'$ be ring maps. Let $B' = B \otimes_A A'$ be the base change of $B$. If $A \to B$ is ind-Zariski, then $A' \to B'$ is ind-Zariski. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-composition-ind-zariski} Let $A \to B$ and $B \to C$ be ring maps. If $A \to B$ and $B \to C$ are ind-Zariski, then $A \to C$ is ind-Zariski. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-ind-zariski-permanence} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $B \to C$ be an $A$-algebra homomorphism. If $A \to B$ and $A \to C$ are ind-Zariski, then $B \to C$ is ind-Zariski. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-ind-ind-zariski} A filtered colimit of ind-Zariski $A$-algebras is ind-Zariski over $A$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-ind-zariski-implies} Let $A \to B$ be ind-Zariski. Then $A \to B$ identifies local rings, \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \section{Constructing w-local affine schemes} \label{section-construction} \noindent An affine scheme $X$ is called {\it w-local} if its underlying topological space is w-local (Definition \ref{definition-w-local}). It turns out given any ring $A$ there is a canonical faithfully flat ind-Zariski ring map $A \to A_w$ such that $\Spec(A_w)$ is w-local. The key to constructing $A_w$ is the following simple lemma. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-localization} Let $A$ be a ring. Set $X = \Spec(A)$. Let $Z \subset X$ be a locally closed subscheme which of the form $D(f) \cap V(I)$ for some $f \in A$ and ideal $I \subset A$. Then \begin{enumerate} \item there exists a multiplicative subset $S \subset A$ such that $\Spec(S^{-1}A)$ maps by a homeomorphism to the set of points of $X$ specializing to $Z$, \item the $A$-algebra $A_Z^\sim = S^{-1}A$ depends only on the underlying locally closed subset $Z \subset X$, \item $Z$ is a closed subscheme of $\Spec(A_Z^\sim)$, \end{enumerate} If $A \to A'$ is a ring map and $Z' \subset X' = \Spec(A')$ is a locally closed subscheme of the same form which maps into $Z$, then there is a unique $A$-algebra map $A_Z^\sim \to (A')_{Z'}^\sim$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $S \subset A$ be the multiplicative set of elements which map to invertible elements of $\Gamma(Z, \mathcal{O}_Z) = (A/I)_f$. If $\mathfrak p$ is a prime of $A$ which does not specialize to $Z$, then $\mathfrak p$ generates the unit ideal in $(A/I)_f$. Hence we can write $f^n = g + h$ for some $n \geq 0$, $g \in \mathfrak p$, $h \in I$. Then $g \in S$ and we see that $\mathfrak p$ is not in the spectrum of $S^{-1}A$. Conversely, if $\mathfrak p$ does specialize to $Z$, say $\mathfrak p \subset \mathfrak q \supset I$ with $f \not \in \mathfrak q$, then we see that $S^{-1}A$ maps to $A_\mathfrak q$ and hence $\mathfrak p$ is in the spectrum of $S^{-1}A$. This proves (1). \medskip\noindent The isomorphism class of the localization $S^{-1}A$ depends only on the corresponding subset $\Spec(S^{-1}A) \subset \Spec(A)$, whence (2) holds. By construction $S^{-1}A$ maps surjectively onto $(A/I)_f$, hence (3). The final statement follows as the multiplicative subset $S' \subset A'$ corresponding to $Z'$ contains the image of the multiplicative subset $S$. \end{proof} \noindent Let $A$ be a ring. Let $E \subset A$ be a finite subset. We get a stratification of $X = \Spec(A)$ into locally closed subschemes by looking at the vanishing behaviour of the elements of $E$. More precisely, given a disjoint union decomposition $E = E' \amalg E''$ we set \begin{equation} \label{equation-stratum} Z(E', E'') = \bigcap\nolimits_{f \in E'} D(f) \cap \bigcap\nolimits_{f \in E''} V(f) = D(\prod\nolimits_{f \in E'} f) \cap V( \sum\nolimits_{f \in E''} fA) \end{equation} The points of $Z(E', E'')$ are exactly those $x \in X$ such that $f \in E'$ maps to a nonzero element in $\kappa(x)$ and $f \in E''$ maps to zero in $\kappa(x)$. Thus it is clear that \begin{equation} \label{equation-stratify} X = \coprod\nolimits_{E = E' \amalg E''} Z(E', E'') \end{equation} set theoretically. Observe that each stratum is constructible. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-refine} Let $X = \Spec(A)$ as above. Given any finite stratification $X = \coprod T_i$ by constructible subsets, there exists a finite subset $E \subset A$ such that the stratification (\ref{equation-stratify}) refines $X = \coprod T_i$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} We may write $T_i = \bigcup_j U_{i, j} \cap V_{i, j}^c$ as a finite union for some $U_{i, j}$ and $V_{i, j}$ quasi-compact open in $X$. Then we may write $U_{i, j} = \bigcup D(f_{i, j, k})$ and $V_{i, j} = \bigcup D(g_{i, j, l})$. Then we set $E = \{f_{i, j, k}\} \cup \{g_{i, j, l}\}$. This does the job, because the stratification (\ref{equation-stratify}) is the one whose strata are labeled by the vanishing pattern of the elements of $E$ which clearly refines the given stratification. \end{proof} \noindent We continue the discussion. Given a finite subset $E \subset A$ we set \begin{equation} \label{equation-ring} A_E = \prod\nolimits_{E = E' \amalg E''} A_{Z(E', E'')}^\sim \end{equation} with notation as in Lemma \ref{lemma-localization}. This makes sense because (\ref{equation-stratum}) shows that each $Z(E', E'')$ has the correct shape. We take the spectrum of this ring and denote it \begin{equation} \label{equation-spectrum} X_E = \Spec(A_E) = \coprod\nolimits_{E = E' \amalg E''} X_{E', E''} \end{equation} with $X_{E', E''} = \Spec(A_{Z(E', E'')}^\sim)$. Note that \begin{equation} \label{equation-closed} Z_E = \coprod\nolimits_{E = E' \amalg E''} Z(E', E'') \longrightarrow X_E \end{equation} is a closed subscheme. By construction the closed subscheme $Z_E$ contains all the closed points of the affine scheme $X_E$ as every point of $X_{E', E''}$ specializes to a point of $Z(E', E'')$. \medskip\noindent Let $I(A)$ be the partially ordered set of all finite subsets of $A$. This is a directed partially ordered set. For $E_1 \subset E_2$ there is a canonical transition map $A_{E_1} \to A_{E_2}$ of $A$-algebras. Namely, given a decomposition $E_2 = E'_2 \amalg E''_2$ we set $E'_1 = E_1 \cap E'_2$ and $E''_1 = E_1 \cap E''_2$. Then observe that $Z(E'_1, E''_1) \subset Z(E'_2, E''_2)$ hence a unique $A$-algebra map $A_{Z(E'_1, E''_1)}^\sim \to A_{Z(E'_2, E''_2)}^\sim$ by Lemma \ref{lemma-localization}. Using these maps collectively we obtain the desired ring map $A_{E_1} \to A_{E_2}$. Observe that the corresponding map of affine schemes \begin{equation} \label{equation-transition} X_{E_2} \longrightarrow X_{E_1} \end{equation} maps $Z_{E_2}$ into $Z_{E_1}$. By uniqueness we obtain a system of $A$-algebras over $I(A)$ and we set \begin{equation} \label{equation-colimit-ring} A_w = \colim_{E \in I(A)} A_E \end{equation} This $A$-algebra is ind-Zariski and faithfully flat over $A$. Finally, we set $X_w = \Spec(A_w)$ and endow it with the closed subscheme $Z = \lim_{E \in I(A)} Z_E$. In a formula \begin{equation} \label{equation-final} X_w = \lim_{E \in I(A)} X_E \supset Z = \lim_{E \in I(A)} Z_E \end{equation} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-make-w-local} Let $X = \Spec(A)$ be an affine scheme. With $A \to A_w$, $X_w = \Spec(A_w)$, and $Z \subset X_w$ as above. \begin{enumerate} \item $A \to A_w$ is ind-Zariski and faithfully flat, \item $X_w \to X$ induces a bijection $Z \to X$, \item $Z$ is the set of closed points of $X_w$, \item $Z$ is a reduced scheme, and \item every point of $X_w$ specializes to a unique point of $Z$. \end{enumerate} In particular, $X_w$ is w-local (Definition \ref{definition-w-local}). \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The map $A \to A_w$ is ind-Zariski by construction. For every $E$ the morphism $Z_E \to X$ is a bijection, hence (2). As $Z \subset X_w$ we conclude $X_w \to X$ is surjective and $A \to A_w$ is faithfully flat by Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-ff-rings}. This proves (1). \medskip\noindent Suppose that $y \in X_w$, $y \not \in Z$. Then there exists an $E$ such that the image of $y$ in $X_E$ is not contained in $Z_E$. Then for all $E \subset E'$ also $y$ maps to an element of $X_{E'}$ not contained in $Z_{E'}$. Let $T_{E'} \subset X_{E'}$ be the reduced closed subscheme which is the closure of the image of $y$. It is clear that $T = \lim_{E \subset E'} T_{E'}$ is the closure of $y$ in $X_w$. For every $E \subset E'$ the scheme $T_{E'} \cap Z_{E'}$ is nonempty by construction of $X_{E'}$. Hence $\lim T_{E'} \cap Z_{E'}$ is nonempty and we conclude that $T \cap Z$ is nonempty. Thus $y$ is not a closed point. It follows that every closed point of $X_w$ is in $Z$. \medskip\noindent Suppose that $y \in X_w$ specializes to $z, z' \in Z$. We will show that $z = z'$ which will finish the proof of (3) and will imply (5). Let $x, x' \in X$ be the images of $z$ and $z'$. Since $Z \to X$ is bijective it suffices to show that $x = x'$. If $x \not = x'$, then there exists an $f \in A$ such that $x \in D(f)$ and $x' \in V(f)$ (or vice versa). Set $E = \{f\}$ so that $$X_E = \Spec(A_f) \amalg \Spec(A_{V(f)}^\sim)$$ Then we see that $z$ and $z'$ map $x_E$ and $x'_E$ which are in different parts of the given decomposition of $X_E$ above. But then it impossible for $x_E$ and $x'_E$ to be specializations of a common point. This is the desired contradiction. \medskip\noindent Recall that given a finite subset $E \subset A$ we have $Z_E$ is a disjoint union of the locally closed subschemes $Z(E', E'')$ each isomorphic to the spectrum of $(A/I)_f$ where $I$ is the ideal generated by $E''$ and $f$ the product of the elements of $E'$. Any nilpotent element $b$ of $(A/I)_f$ is the class of $g/f^n$ for some $g \in A$. Then setting $E' = E \cup \{g\}$ the reader verifies that $b$ is pulls back to zero under the transition map $Z_{E'} \to Z_E$ of the system. This proves (4). \end{proof} \begin{remark} \label{remark-size-w} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $\kappa$ be an infinite cardinal bigger or equal than the cardinality of $A$. Then the cardinality of $A_w$ (Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local}) is at most $\kappa$. Namely, each $A_E$ has cardinality at most $\kappa$ and the set of finite subsets of $A$ has cardinality at most $\kappa$ as well. Thus the result follows as $\kappa \otimes \kappa = \kappa$, see Sets, Section \ref{sets-section-cardinals}. \end{remark} \begin{lemma}[Universal property of the construction] \label{lemma-universal} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $A \to A_w$ be the ring map constructed in Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local}. For any ring map $A \to B$ such that $\Spec(B)$ is w-local, there is a unique factorization $A \to A_w \to B$ such that $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A_w)$ is w-local. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Denote $Y = \Spec(B)$ and $Y_0 \subset Y$ the set of closed points. Denote $f : Y \to X$ the given morphism. Recall that $Y_0$ is profinite, in particular every constructible subset of $Y_0$ is open and closed. Let $E \subset A$ be a finite subset. Recall that $A_w = \colim A_E$ and that the set of closed points of $\Spec(A_w)$ is the limit of the closed subsets $Z_E \subset X_E = \Spec(A_E)$. Thus it suffices to show there is a unique factorization $A \to A_E \to B$ such that $Y \to X_E$ maps $Y_0$ into $Z_E$. Since $Z_E \to X = \Spec(A)$ is bijective, and since the strata $Z(E', E'')$ are constructible we see that $$Y_0 = \coprod f^{-1}(Z(E', E'')) \cap Y_0$$ is a disjoint union decomposition into open and closed subsets. As $Y_0 = \pi_0(Y)$ we obtain a corresponding decomposition of $Y$ into open and closed pieces. Thus it suffices to construct the factorization in case $f(Y_0) \subset Z(E', E'')$ for some decomposition $E = E' \amalg E''$. In this case $f(Y)$ is contained in the set of points of $X$ specializing to $Z(E', E'')$ which is homeomorphic to $X_{E', E''}$. Thus we obtain a unique continuous map $Y \to X_{E', E''}$ over $X$. By Lemma \ref{lemma-fully-faithful-spaces-over-X} this corresponds to a unique morphism of schemes $Y \to X_{E', E''}$ over $X$. This finishes the proof. \end{proof} \noindent Recall that the spectrum of a ring is profinite if and only if every point is closed. There are in fact a whole slew of equivalent conditions that imply this. See Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-ring-with-only-minimal-primes} or Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-characterize-profinite-spectral}. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-profinite-goes-up} Let $A$ be a ring such that $\Spec(A)$ is profinite. Let $A \to B$ be a ring map. Then $\Spec(B)$ is profinite in each of the following cases: \begin{enumerate} \item if $\mathfrak q,\mathfrak q' \subset B$ lie over the same prime of $A$, then neither $\mathfrak q \subset \mathfrak q'$, nor $\mathfrak q' \subset \mathfrak q$, \item $A \to B$ induces algebraic extensions of residue fields, \item $A \to B$ is a local isomorphism, \item $A \to B$ identifies local rings, \item $A \to B$ is weakly \'etale, \item $A \to B$ is quasi-finite, \item $A \to B$ is unramified, \item $A \to B$ is \'etale, \item $B$ is a filtered colimit of $A$-algebras as in (1) -- (8), \item etc. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} By the references mentioned above (Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-ring-with-only-minimal-primes} or Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-characterize-profinite-spectral}) there are no specializations between distinct points of $\Spec(A)$ and $\Spec(B)$ is profinite if and only if there are no specializations between distinct points of $\Spec(B)$. These specializations can only happen in the fibres of $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$. In this way we see that (1) is true. \medskip\noindent The assumption in (2) implies all primes of $B$ are maximal by Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-finite-residue-extension-closed}. Thus (2) holds. If $A \to B$ is a local isomorphism or identifies local rings, then the residue field extensions are trivial, so (3) and (4) follow from (2). If $A \to B$ is weakly \'etale, then More on Algebra, Lemma \ref{more-algebra-lemma-weakly-etale-residue-field-extensions} tells us it induces separable algebraic residue field extensions, so (5) follows from (2). If $A \to B$ is quasi-finite, then the fibres are finite discrete topological spaces. Hence (6) follows from (1). Hence (3) follows from (1). Cases (7) and (8) follow from this as unramified and \'etale ring map are quasi-finite (Algebra, Lemmas \ref{algebra-lemma-unramified-quasi-finite} and \ref{algebra-lemma-etale-quasi-finite}). If $B = \colim B_i$ is a filtered colimit of $A$-algebras, then $\Spec(B) = \colim \Spec(B_i)$, hence if each $\Spec(B_i)$ is profinite, so is $\Spec(B)$. This proves (9). \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-localize-along-closed-profinite} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $V(I) \subset \Spec(A)$ be a closed subset which is a profinite topological space. Then there exists an ind-Zariski ring map $A \to B$ such that $\Spec(B)$ is w-local, the set of closed points is $V(IB)$, and $A/I \cong B/IB$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $A \to A_w$ and $Z \subset Y = \Spec(A_w)$ as in Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local}. Let $T \subset Z$ be the inverse image of $V(I)$. Then $T \to V(I)$ is a homeomorphism by Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-bijective-map}. Let $B = (A_w)_T^\sim$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-localization}. It is clear that $B$ is w-local with closed points $V(IB)$. The ring map $A/I \to B/IB$ is ind-Zariski and induces a homeomorphism on underlying topological spaces. Hence it is an isomorphism by Lemma \ref{lemma-local-isomorphism-fully-faithful}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} Let $A$ be a ring such that $X = \Spec(A)$ is w-local. Let $I \subset A$ be the radical ideal cutting out the set $X_0$ of closed points in $X$. Let $A \to B$ be a ring map inducing algebraic extensions on residue fields at primes. Then \begin{enumerate} \item every point of $Z = V(IB)$ is a closed point of $\Spec(B)$, \item there exists an ind-Zariski ring map $B \to C$ such that \begin{enumerate} \item $B/IB \to C/IC$ is an isomorphism, \item the space $Y = \Spec(C)$ is w-local, \item the induced map $p : Y \to X$ is w-local, and \item $p^{-1}(X_0)$ is the set of closed points of $Y$. \end{enumerate} \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} By Lemma \ref{lemma-profinite-goes-up} applied to $A/I \to B/IB$ all points of $Z = V(IB) = \Spec(B/IB)$ are closed, in fact $\Spec(B/IB)$ is a profinite space. To finish the proof we apply Lemma \ref{lemma-localize-along-closed-profinite} to $IB \subset B$. \end{proof} \section{Identifying local rings versus ind-Zariski} \label{section-connected-components} \noindent An ind-Zariski ring map $A \to B$ identifies local rings (Lemma \ref{lemma-ind-zariski-implies}). The converse does not hold (Examples, Section \ref{examples-section-not-ind-etale}). However, it turns out that there is a kind of structure theorem for ring maps which identify local rings in terms of ind-Zariski ring maps, see Proposition \ref{proposition-maps-wich-identify-local-rings}. \medskip\noindent Let $A$ be a ring. Let $X = \Spec(A)$. The space of connected components $\pi_0(X)$ is a profinite space by Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-spectral-pi0} (and Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-spec-spectral}). \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-construct} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $X = \Spec(A)$. Let $T \subset \pi_0(X)$ be a closed subset. There exists a surjective ind-Zariski ring map $A \to B$ such that $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ induces a homeomorphism of $\Spec(B)$ with the inverse image of $T$ in $X$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $Z \subset X$ be the inverse image of $T$. Then $Z$ is the intersection $Z = \bigcap Z_\alpha$ of the open and closed subsets of $X$ containing $Z$, see Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-closed-union-connected-components}. For each $\alpha$ we have $Z_\alpha = \Spec(A_\alpha)$ where $A \to A_\alpha$ is a local isomorphism (a localization at an idempotent). Setting $B = \colim A_\alpha$ proves the lemma. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-construct-profinite} Let $A$ be a ring and let $X = \Spec(A)$. Let $T$ be a profinite space and let $T \to \pi_0(X)$ be a continuous map. There exists an ind-Zariski ring map $A \to B$ such that with $Y = \Spec(B)$ the diagram $$\xymatrix{ Y \ar[r] \ar[d] & \pi_0(Y) \ar[d] \\ X \ar[r] & \pi_0(X) }$$ is cartesian in the category of topological spaces and such that $\pi_0(Y) = T$ as spaces over $\pi_0(X)$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Namely, write $T = \lim T_i$ as the limit of an inverse system finite discrete spaces over a directed set (see Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-profinite}). For each $i$ let $Z_i = \Im(T \to \pi_0(X) \times T_i)$. This is a closed subset. Observe that $X \times T_i$ is the spectrum of $A_i = \prod_{t \in T_i} A$ and that $A \to A_i$ is a local isomorphism. By Lemma \ref{lemma-construct} we see that $Z_i \subset \pi_0(X \times T_i) = \pi_0(X) \times T_i$ corresponds to a surjection $A_i \to B_i$ which is ind-Zariski such that $\Spec(B_i) = X \times_{\pi_0(X)} Z_i$ as subsets of $X \times T_i$. The transition maps $T_i \to T_{i'}$ induce maps $Z_i \to Z_{i'}$ and $X \times_{\pi_0(X)} Z_i \to X \times_{\pi_0(X)} Z_{i'}$. Hence ring maps $B_{i'} \to B_i$ (Lemmas \ref{lemma-local-isomorphism-fully-faithful} and \ref{lemma-ind-zariski-implies}). Set $B = \colim B_i$. Because $T = \lim Z_i$ we have $X \times_{\pi_0(X)} T = \lim X \times_{\pi_0(X)} Z_i$ and hence $Y = \Spec(B) = \lim \Spec(B_i)$ fits into the cartesian diagram $$\xymatrix{ Y \ar[r] \ar[d] & T \ar[d] \\ X \ar[r] & \pi_0(X) }$$ of topological spaces. By Lemma \ref{lemma-silly} we conclude that $T = \pi_0(Y)$. \end{proof} \begin{example} \label{example-construct-space} Let $k$ be a field. Let $T$ be a profinite topological space. There exists an ind-Zariski ring map $k \to A$ such that $\Spec(A)$ is homeomorphic to $T$. Namely, just apply Lemma \ref{lemma-construct-profinite} to $T \to \pi_0(\Spec(k)) = \{*\}$. In fact, in this case we have $$A = \colim \text{Map}(T_i, k)$$ whenever we write $T = \lim T_i$ as a filtered limit with each $T_i$ finite. \end{example} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-w-local-morphism-equal-points-stalks-is-iso} Let $A \to B$ be ring map such that \begin{enumerate} \item $A \to B$ identifies local rings, \item the topological spaces $\Spec(B)$, $\Spec(A)$ are w-local, \item $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ is w-local, and \item $\pi_0(\Spec(B)) \to \pi_0(\Spec(A))$ is bijective. \end{enumerate} Then $A \to B$ is an isomorphism \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $X_0 \subset X = \Spec(A)$ and $Y_0 \subset Y = \Spec(B)$ be the sets of closed points. By assumption $Y_0$ maps into $X_0$ and the induced map $Y_0 \to X_0$ is a bijection. As a space $\Spec(A)$ is the disjoint union of the spectra of the local rings of $A$ at closed points. Similarly for $B$. Hence $X \to Y$ is a bijection. Since $A \to B$ is flat we have going down (Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-flat-going-down}). Thus Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-unique-prime-over-localize-below} shows for any prime $\mathfrak q \subset B$ lying over $\mathfrak p \subset A$ we have $B_\mathfrak q = B_\mathfrak p$. Since $B_\mathfrak q = A_\mathfrak p$ by assumption, we see that $A_\mathfrak p = B_\mathfrak p$ for all primes $\mathfrak p$ of $A$. Thus $A = B$ by Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-characterize-zero-local}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-w-local-morphism-equal-stalks-is-ind-zariski} Let $A \to B$ be ring map such that \begin{enumerate} \item $A \to B$ identifies local rings, \item the topological spaces $\Spec(B)$, $\Spec(A)$ are w-local, and \item $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ is w-local. \end{enumerate} Then $A \to B$ is ind-Zariski. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Set $X = \Spec(A)$ and $Y = \Spec(B)$. Let $X_0 \subset X$ and $Y_0 \subset Y$ be the set of closed points. Let $A \to A'$ be the ind-Zariski morphism of affine schemes such that with $X' = \Spec(A')$ the diagram $$\xymatrix{ X' \ar[r] \ar[d] & \pi_0(X') \ar[d] \\ X \ar[r] & \pi_0(X) }$$ is cartesian in the category of topological spaces and such that $\pi_0(X') = \pi_0(Y)$ as spaces over $\pi_0(X)$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-construct-profinite}. By Lemma \ref{lemma-silly} we see that $X'$ is w-local and the set of closed points $X'_0 \subset X'$ is the inverse image of $X_0$. \medskip\noindent We obtain a continuous map $Y \to X'$ of underlying topological spaces over $X$ identifying $\pi_0(Y)$ with $\pi_0(X')$. By Lemma \ref{lemma-local-isomorphism-fully-faithful} (and Lemma \ref{lemma-ind-zariski-implies}) this is corresponds to a morphism of affine schemes $Y \to X'$ over $X$. Since $Y \to X$ maps $Y_0$ into $X_0$ we see that $Y \to X'$ maps $Y_0$ into $X'_0$, i.e., $Y \to X'$ is w-local. By Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-morphism-equal-points-stalks-is-iso} we see that $Y \cong X'$ and we win. \end{proof} \noindent The following proposition is a warm up for the type of result we will prove later. \begin{proposition} \label{proposition-maps-wich-identify-local-rings} Let $A \to B$ be a ring map which identifies local rings. Then there exists a faithfully flat, ind-Zariski ring map $B \to B'$ such that $A \to B'$ is ind-Zariski. \end{proposition} \begin{proof} Let $A \to A_w$, resp. $B \to B_w$ be the faithfully flat, ind-Zariski ring map constructed in Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local} for $A$, resp.\ $B$. Since $\Spec(B_w)$ is w-local, there exists a unique factorization $A \to A_w \to B_w$ such that $\Spec(B_w) \to \Spec(A_w)$ is w-local by Lemma \ref{lemma-universal}. Note that $A_w \to B_w$ identifies local rings, see Lemma \ref{lemma-local-isomorphism-permanence}. By Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-morphism-equal-stalks-is-ind-zariski} this means $A_w \to B_w$ is ind-Zariski. Since $B \to B_w$ is faithfully flat, ind-Zariski (Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local}) and the composition $A \to B \to B_w$ is ind-Zariski (Lemma \ref{lemma-composition-ind-zariski}) the proposition is proved. \end{proof} \noindent The proposition above allows us to characterize the affine, weakly contractible objects in the pro-Zariski site of an affine scheme. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-w-local-extremally-disconnected} Let $A$ be a ring. The following are equivalent \begin{enumerate} \item every faithfully flat ring map $A \to B$ identifying local rings has a section, \item every faithfully flat ind-Zariski ring map $A \to B$ has a section, and \item $A$ satisfies \begin{enumerate} \item $\Spec(A)$ is w-local, and \item $\pi_0(\Spec(A))$ is extremally disconnected. \end{enumerate} \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The equivalence of (1) and (2) follows immediately from Proposition \ref{proposition-maps-wich-identify-local-rings}. \medskip\noindent Assume (3)(a) and (3)(b). Let $A \to B$ be faithfully flat and ind-Zariski. We will use without further mention the fact that a flat map $A \to B$ is faithfully flat if and only if every closed point of $\Spec(A)$ is in the image of $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ We will show that $A \to B$ has a section. \medskip\noindent Let $I \subset A$ be an ideal such that $V(I) \subset \Spec(A)$ is the set of closed points of $\Spec(A)$. We may replace $B$ by the ring $C$ constructed in Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} for $A \to B$ and $I \subset A$. Thus we may assume $\Spec(B)$ is w-local such that the set of closed points of $\Spec(B)$ is $V(IB)$. \medskip\noindent Assume $\Spec(B)$ is w-local and the set of closed points of $\Spec(B)$ is $V(IB)$. Choose a continuous section to the surjective continuous map $V(IB) \to V(I)$. This is possible as $V(I) \cong \pi_0(\Spec(A))$ is extremally disconnected, see Topology, Proposition \ref{topology-proposition-projective-in-category-hausdorff-qc}. The image is a closed subspace $T \subset \pi_0(\Spec(B)) \cong V(JB)$ mapping homeomorphically onto $\pi_0(A)$. Replacing $B$ by the ind-Zariski quotient ring constructed in Lemma \ref{lemma-construct} we see that we may assume $\pi_0(\Spec(B)) \to \pi_0(\Spec(A))$ is bijective. At this point $A \to B$ is an isomorphism by Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-morphism-equal-points-stalks-is-iso}. \medskip\noindent Assume (1) or equivalently (2). Let $A \to A_w$ be the ring map constructed in Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local}. By (1) there is a section $A_w \to A$. Thus $\Spec(A)$ is homeomorphic to a closed subset of $\Spec(A_w)$. By Lemma \ref{lemma-closed-subspace-w-local} we see (3)(a) holds. Finally, let $T \to \pi_0(A)$ be a surjective map with $T$ an extremally disconnected, quasi-compact, Hausdorff topological space (Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-existence-projective-cover}). Choose $A \to B$ as in Lemma \ref{lemma-construct-profinite} adapted to $T \to \pi_0(\Spec(A))$. By (1) there is a section $B \to A$. Thus we see that $T = \pi_0(\Spec(B)) \to \pi_0(\Spec(A))$ has a section. A formal categorical argument, using Topology, Proposition \ref{topology-proposition-projective-in-category-hausdorff-qc}, implies that $\pi_0(\Spec(A))$ is extremally disconnected. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-find-Zariski-w-contractible} Let $A$ be a ring. There exists a faithfully flat, ind-Zariski ring map $A \to B$ such that $B$ satisfies the equivalent conditions of Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-extremally-disconnected}. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} We first apply Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local} to see that we may assume that $\Spec(A)$ is w-local. Choose an extremally disconnected space $T$ and a surjective continuous map $T \to \pi_0(\Spec(A))$, see Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-existence-projective-cover}. Note that $T$ is profinite. Apply Lemma \ref{lemma-construct-profinite} to find an ind-Zariski ring map $A \to B$ such that $\pi_0(\Spec(B)) \to \pi_0(\Spec(A))$ realizes $T \to \pi_0(\Spec(A))$ and such that $$\xymatrix{ \Spec(B) \ar[r] \ar[d] & \pi_0(\Spec(B)) \ar[d] \\ \Spec(A) \ar[r] & \pi_0(\Spec(A)) }$$ is cartesian in the category of topological spaces. Note that $\Spec(B)$ is w-local, that $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ is w-local, and that the set of closed points of $\Spec(B)$ is the inverse image of the set of closed points of $\Spec(A)$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-silly}. Thus condition (3) of Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-extremally-disconnected} holds for $B$. \end{proof} \begin{remark} \label{remark-slightly-stronger} In each of Lemmas \ref{lemma-construct}, \ref{lemma-construct-profinite}, Proposition \ref{proposition-maps-wich-identify-local-rings}, and Lemma \ref{lemma-find-Zariski-w-contractible} we find an ind-Zariski ring map with some properties. In the paper \cite{BS} the authors use the notion of an ind-(Zariski localization) which is a filtered colimit of finite products of principal localizations. It is possible to replace ind-Zariski by ind-(Zariski localization) in each of the results listed above. However, we do not need this and the notion of an ind-Zariski homomorphism of rings as defined here has slightly better formal properties. Moreover, the notion of an ind-Zariski ring map is the natural analogue of the notion of an ind-\'etale ring map defined in the next section. \end{remark} \section{Ind-\'etale algebra} \label{section-ind-etale} \noindent We start with a definition. \begin{definition} \label{definition-ind-etale} A ring map $A \to B$ is said to be {\it ind-\'etale} if $B$ can be written as a filtered colimit of \'etale $A$-algebras. \end{definition} \noindent The category of ind-\'etale algebras is closed under a number of natural operations. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-base-change-ind-etale} Let $A \to B$ and $A \to A'$ be ring maps. Let $B' = B \otimes_A A'$ be the base change of $B$. If $A \to B$ is ind-\'etale, then $A' \to B'$ is ind-\'etale. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This is Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-base-change-colimit-etale}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-composition-ind-etale} Let $A \to B$ and $B \to C$ be ring maps. If $A \to B$ and $B \to C$ are ind-\'etale, then $A \to C$ is ind-\'etale. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This is Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-composition-colimit-etale}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-ind-ind-etale} A filtered colimit of ind-\'etale $A$-algebras is ind-\'etale over $A$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This is Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-colimit-colimit-etale}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-ind-etale-permanence} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $B \to C$ be an $A$-algebra map of ind-\'etale $A$-algebras. Then $C$ is an ind-\'etale $B$-algebra. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This is Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-colimits-of-etale}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-ind-etale-implies} Let $A \to B$ be ind-\'etale. Then $A \to B$ is weakly \'etale (More on Algebra, Definition \ref{more-algebra-definition-weakly-etale}). \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This follows from More on Algebra, Lemma \ref{more-algebra-lemma-when-weakly-etale}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-lift-ind-etale} Let $A$ be a ring and let $I \subset A$ be an ideal. The base change functor $$\text{ind-\'etale }A\text{-algebras} \longrightarrow \text{ind-\'etale }A/I\text{-algebras},\quad C \longmapsto C/IC$$ has a fully faithful right adjoint $v$. In particular, given an ind-\'etale $A/I$-algebra $\overline{C}$ there exists an ind-\'etale $A$-algebra $C = v(\overline{C})$ such that $\overline{C} = C/IC$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $\overline{C}$ be an ind-\'etale $A/I$-algebra. Consider the category $\mathcal{C}$ of factorizations $A \to B \to \overline{C}$ where $A \to B$ is \'etale. (We ignore some set theoretical issues in this proof.) We will show that this category is directed and that $C = \colim_\mathcal{C} B$ is an ind-\'etale $A$-algebra such that $\overline{C} = C/IC$. \medskip\noindent We first prove that $\mathcal{C}$ is directed (Categories, Definition \ref{categories-definition-directed}). The category is nonempty as $A \to A \to \overline{C}$ is an object. Suppose that $A \to B \to \overline{C}$ and $A \to B' \to \overline{C}$ are two objects of $\mathcal{C}$. Then $A \to B \otimes_A B' \to \overline{C}$ is another (use Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-etale}). Suppose that $f, g : B \to B'$ are two maps between objects $A \to B \to \overline{C}$ and $A \to B' \to \overline{C}$ of $\mathcal{C}$. Then a coequalizer is $A \to B' \otimes_{f, B, g} B' \to \overline{C}$. This is an object of $\mathcal{C}$ by Algebra, Lemmas \ref{algebra-lemma-etale} and \ref{algebra-lemma-map-between-etale}. Thus the category $\mathcal{C}$ is directed. \medskip\noindent Write $\overline{C} = \colim \overline{B_i}$ as a filtered colimit with $\overline{B_i}$ \'etale over $A/I$. For every $i$ there exists $A \to B_i$ \'etale with $\overline{B_i} = B_i/IB_i$, see Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-lift-etale}. Thus $C \to \overline{C}$ is surjective. Since $C/IC \to \overline{C}$ is ind-\'etale (Lemma \ref{lemma-ind-etale-permanence}) we see that it is flat. Hence $\overline{C}$ is a localization of $C/IC$ at some multiplicative subset $S \subset C/IC$ (Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-pure}). Take an $f \in C$ mapping to an element of $S \subset C/IC$. Choose $A \to B \to \overline{C}$ in $\mathcal{C}$ and $g \in B$ mapping to $f$ in the colimit. Then we see that $A \to B_g \to \overline{C}$ is an object of $\mathcal{C}$ as well. Thus $f$ is an invertible element of $C$. It follows that $C/IC = \overline{C}$. \medskip\noindent Next, we claim that for an ind-\'etale algebra $D$ over $A$ we have $$\Mor_A(D, C) = \Mor_{A/I}(D/ID, \overline{C})$$ Namely, let $D/ID \to \overline{C}$ be an $A/I$-algebra map. Write $D = \colim_{i \in I} D_i$ as a colimit over a directed set $I$ with $D_i$ \'etale over $A$. By choice of $\mathcal{C}$ we obtain a transformation $I \to \mathcal{C}$ and hence a map $D \to C$ compatible with maps to $\overline{C}$. Whence the claim. \medskip\noindent It follows that the functor $v$ defined by the rule $$\overline{C} \longmapsto v(\overline{C}) = \colim_{A \to B \to \overline{C}} B$$ is a right adjoint to the base change functor $u$ as required by the lemma. The functor $v$ is fully faithful because $u \circ v = \text{id}$ by construction, see Categories, Lemma \ref{categories-lemma-adjoint-fully-faithful}. \end{proof} \section{Constructing ind-\'etale algebras} \label{section-construction-ind-etale} \noindent Let $A$ be a ring. Recall that any \'etale ring map $A \to B$ is isomorphic to a standard smooth ring map of relative dimension $0$. Such a ring map is of the form $$A \longrightarrow A[x_1, \ldots, x_n]/(f_1, \ldots, f_n)$$ where the determinant of the $n \times n$-matrix with entries $\partial f_i/\partial x_j$ is invertible in the quotient ring. See Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-etale-standard-smooth}. \medskip\noindent Let $S(A)$ be the set of all {\it faithfully flat}\footnote{In the presence of flatness, e.g., for smooth or \'etale ring maps, this just means that the induced map on spectra is surjective. See Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-ff-rings}.} standard smooth $A$-algebras of relative dimension $0$. Let $I(A)$ be the partially ordered (by inclusion) set of finite subsets $E$ of $S(A)$. Note that $I(A)$ is a directed partially ordered set. For $E = \{A \to B_1, \ldots, A \to B_n\}$ set $$B_E = B_1 \otimes_A \ldots \otimes_A B_n$$ Observe that $B_E$ is a faithfully flat \'etale $A$-algebra. For $E \subset E'$, there is a canonical transition map $B_E \to B_{E'}$ of \'etale $A$-algebras. Namely, say $E = \{A \to B_1, \ldots, A \to B_n\}$ and $E' = \{A \to B_1, \ldots, A \to B_{n + m}\}$ then $B_E \to B_{E'}$ sends $b_1 \otimes \ldots \otimes b_n$ to the element $b_1 \otimes \ldots \otimes b_n \otimes 1 \otimes \ldots \otimes 1$ of $B_{E'}$. This construction defines a system of faithfully flat \'etale $A$-algebras over $I(A)$ and we set $$T(A) = \colim_{E \in I(A)} B_E$$ Observe that $T(A)$ is a faithfully flat ind-\'etale $A$-algebra (Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-colimit-faithfully-flat}). By construction given any faithfully flat \'etale $A$-algebra $B$ there is a (non-unique) $A$-algebra map $B \to T(A)$. Namely, pick some $(A \to B_0) \in S(A)$ and an isomorphism $B \cong B_0$. Then the canonical coprojection $$B \to B_0 \to T(A) = \colim_{E \in I(A)} B_E$$ is the desired map. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-first-construction} Given a ring $A$ there exists a faithfully flat ind-\'etale $A$-algebra $C$ such that every faithfully flat \'etale ring map $C \to B$ has a section. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Set $T^1(A) = T(A)$ and $T^{n + 1}(A) = T(T^n(A))$. Let $$C = \colim T^n(A)$$ This algebra is faithfully flat over each $T^n(A)$ and in particular over $A$, see Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-colimit-faithfully-flat}. Moreover, $C$ is ind-\'etale over $A$ by Lemma \ref{lemma-ind-ind-etale}. If $C \to B$ is \'etale, then there exists an $n$ and an \'etale ring map $T^n(A) \to B'$ such that $B = C \otimes_{T^n(A)} B'$, see Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-etale}. If $C \to B$ is faithfully flat, then $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(C) \to \Spec(T^n(A))$ is surjective, hence $\Spec(B') \to \Spec(T^n(A))$ is surjective. In other words, $T^n(A) \to B'$ is faithfully flat. By our construction, there is a $T^n(A)$-algebra map $B' \to T^{n + 1}(A)$. This induces a $C$-algebra map $B \to C$ which finishes the proof. \end{proof} \begin{remark} \label{remark-size-T} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $\kappa$ be an infinite cardinal bigger or equal than the cardinality of $A$. Then the cardinality of $T(A)$ is at most $\kappa$. Namely, each $B_E$ has cardinality at most $\kappa$ and the index set $I(A)$ has cardinality at most $\kappa$ as well. Thus the result follows as $\kappa \otimes \kappa = \kappa$, see Sets, Section \ref{sets-section-cardinals}. It follows that the ring constructed in the proof of Lemma \ref{lemma-first-construction} has cardinality at most $\kappa$ as well. \end{remark} \begin{remark} \label{remark-first-construction-functorial} The construction $A \mapsto T(A)$ is functorial in the following sense: If $A \to A'$ is a ring map, then we can construct a commutative diagram $$\xymatrix{ A \ar[r] \ar[d] & T(A) \ar[d] \\ A' \ar[r] & T(A') }$$ Namely, given $(A \to A[x_1, \ldots, x_n]/(f_1, \ldots, f_n))$ in $S(A)$ we can use the ring map $\varphi : A \to A'$ to obtain a corresponding element $(A' \to A'[x_1, \ldots, x_n]/(f^\varphi_1, \ldots, f^\varphi_n))$ of $S(A')$ where $f^\varphi$ means the polynomial obtained by applying $\varphi$ to the coefficients of the polynomial $f$. Moreover, there is a commutative diagram $$\xymatrix{ A \ar[r] \ar[d] & A[x_1, \ldots, x_n]/(f_1, \ldots, f_n) \ar[d] \\ A' \ar[r] & A'[x_1, \ldots, x_n]/(f^\varphi_1, \ldots, f^\varphi_n) }$$ which is a in the category of rings. For $E \subset S(A)$ finite, set $E' = \varphi(E)$ and define $B_E \to B_{E'}$ in the obvious manner. Taking the colimit gives the desired map $T(A) \to T(A')$, see Categories, Lemma \ref{categories-lemma-functorial-colimit}. \end{remark} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-have-sections-quotient} Let $A$ be a ring such that every faithfully flat \'etale ring map $A \to B$ has a section. Then the same is true for every quotient ring $A/I$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Omitted. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-have-sections-strictly-henselian} Let $A$ be a ring such that every faithfully flat \'etale ring map $A \to B$ has a section. Then every local ring of $A$ at a maximal ideal is strictly henselian. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $\mathfrak m$ be a maximal ideal of $A$. Let $A \to B$ be an \'etale ring map and let $\mathfrak q \subset B$ be a prime lying over $\mathfrak m$. By the description of the strict henselization $A_\mathfrak m^{sh}$ in Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-strict-henselization-different} it suffices to show that $A_\mathfrak m = B_\mathfrak q$. Note that there are finitely many primes $\mathfrak q = \mathfrak q_1, \mathfrak q_2, \ldots, \mathfrak q_n$ lying over $\mathfrak m$ and there are no specializations between them as an \'etale ring map is quasi-finite, see Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-etale-quasi-finite}. Thus $\mathfrak q_i$ is a maximal ideal and we can find $g \in \mathfrak q_2 \cap \ldots \cap \mathfrak q_n$, $g \not \in \mathfrak q$ (Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-silly}). After replacing $B$ by $B_g$ we see that $\mathfrak q$ is the only prime of $B$ lying over $\mathfrak m$. The image $U \subset \Spec(A)$ of $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ is open (Algebra, Proposition \ref{algebra-proposition-fppf-open}). Thus the complement $\Spec(A) \setminus U$ is closed and we can find $f \in A$, $f \not \in \mathfrak p$ such that $\Spec(A) = U \cup D(f)$. The ring map $A \to B \times A_f$ is faithfully flat and \'etale, hence has a section $\sigma : B \times A_f \to A$ by assumption on $A$. Observe that $\sigma$ is \'etale, hence flat as a map between \'etale $A$-algebras (Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-map-between-etale}). Since $\mathfrak q$ is the only prime of $B \times A_f$ lying over $A$ we find that $A_\mathfrak p \to B_\mathfrak q$ has a section which is also flat. Thus $A_\mathfrak p \to B_\mathfrak q \to A_\mathfrak p$ are flat local ring maps whose composition is the identity. Since a flat local homomorphism of local rings is injective we conclude these maps are isomorphisms as desired. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-have-sections-localize} Let $A$ be a ring such that every faithfully flat \'etale ring map $A \to B$ has a section. Let $Z \subset \Spec(A)$ be a closed subscheme of the form $D(f) \cap V(I)$ and let $A \to A_Z^\sim$ be as constructed in Lemma \ref{lemma-localization}. Then every faithfully flat \'etale ring map $A_Z^\sim \to C$ has a section. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} There exists an \'etale ring map $A \to B'$ such that $C = B' \otimes_A A_Z^\sim$ as $A_Z^\sim$-algebras. The image $U' \subset \Spec(A)$ of $\Spec(B') \to \Spec(A)$ is open and contains $V(I)$, hence we can find $f \in I$ such that $\Spec(A) = U' \cup D(f)$. Then $A \to B' \times A_f$ is \'etale and faithfully flat. By assumption there is a section $B' \times A_f \to A$. Localizing we obtain the desired section $C \to A_Z^\sim$. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-get-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} Let $A \to B$ be a ring map inducing algebraic extensions on residue fields. There exists a commutative diagram $$\xymatrix{ B \ar[r] & D \\ A \ar[r] \ar[u] & C \ar[u] }$$ with the following properties: \begin{enumerate} \item $A \to C$ is faithfully flat and ind-\'etale, \item $B \to D$ is faithfully flat and ind-\'etale, \item $\Spec(C)$ is w-local, \item $\Spec(D)$ is w-local, \item $\Spec(D) \to \Spec(C)$ is w-local, \item the set of closed points of $\Spec(D)$ is the inverse image of the set of closed points of $\Spec(C)$, \item the set of closed points of $\Spec(C)$ surjects onto $\Spec(A)$, \item the set of closed points of $\Spec(D)$ surjects onto $\Spec(B)$, \item for $\mathfrak m \subset C$ maximal the local ring $C_\mathfrak m$ is strictly henselian. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} There is a faithfully flat, ind-Zariski ring map $A \to A'$ such that $\Spec(A')$ is w-local and such that the set of closed points of $\Spec(A')$ maps onto $\Spec(A)$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-make-w-local}. Let $I \subset A'$ be the ideal such that $V(I)$ is the set of closed points of $\Spec(A')$. Choose $A' \to C'$ as in Lemma \ref{lemma-first-construction}. Note that the local rings $C'_{\mathfrak m'}$ at maximal ideals $\mathfrak m' \subset C'$ are strictly henselian by Lemma \ref{lemma-have-sections-strictly-henselian}. We apply Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} to $A' \to C'$ and $I \subset A'$ to get $C' \to C$ with $C'/IC' \cong C/IC$. Note that since $A' \to C'$ is faithfully flat, $\Spec(C'/IC')$ surjects onto the set of closed points of $A'$ and in particular onto $\Spec(A)$. Moreover, as $V(IC) \subset \Spec(C)$ is the set of closed points of $C$ and $C' \to C$ is ind-Zariski (and identifies local rings) we obtain properties (1), (3), (7), and (9). \medskip\noindent Denote $J \subset C$ the ideal such that $V(J)$ is the set of closed points of $\Spec(C)$. Set $D' = B \otimes_A C$. The ring map $C \to D'$ induces algebraic residue field extensions. Keep in mind that since $V(J) \to \Spec(A)$ is surjective the map $T = V(JD) \to \Spec(B)$ is surjective too. Apply Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} to $C \to D'$ and $J \subset C$ to get $D' \to D$ with $D'/JD' \cong D/JD$. All of the remaining properties given in the lemma are immediate from the results of Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions}. \end{proof} \section{Weakly \'etale versus pro-\'etale} \label{section-weakly-etale} \noindent Recall that a ring homomorphism $A \to B$ is {\it weakly \'etale} if $A \to B$ is flat and $B \otimes_A B \to B$ is flat. We have proved some properties of such ring maps in More on Algebra, Section \ref{more-algebra-section-weakly-etale}. In particular, if $A \to B$ is a local homomorphism, and $A$ is a strictly henselian local rings, then $A = B$, see More on Algebra, Theorem \ref{more-algebra-theorem-olivier}. Using this theorem and the work we've done above we obtain the following structure theorem for weakly \'etale ring maps. \begin{proposition} \label{proposition-weakly-etale} Let $A \to B$ be a weakly \'etale ring map. Then there exists a faithfully flat, ind-\'etale ring map $B \to B'$ such that $A \to B'$ is ind-\'etale. \end{proposition} \begin{proof} The ring map $A \to B$ induces (separable) algebraic extensions of residue fields, see More on Algebra, Lemma \ref{more-algebra-lemma-weakly-etale-residue-field-extensions}. Thus we may apply Lemma \ref{lemma-get-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} and choose a diagram $$\xymatrix{ B \ar[r] & D \\ A \ar[r] \ar[u] & C \ar[u] }$$ with the properties as listed in the lemma. Note that $C \to D$ is weakly \'etale by More on Algebra, Lemma \ref{more-algebra-lemma-weakly-etale-permanence}. Pick a maximal ideal $\mathfrak m \subset D$. By construction this lies over a maximal ideal $\mathfrak m' \subset C$. By More on Algebra, Theorem \ref{more-algebra-theorem-olivier} the ring map $C_{\mathfrak m'} \to D_\mathfrak m$ is an isomorphism. As every point of $\Spec(C)$ specializes to a closed point we conclude that $C \to D$ identifies local rings. Thus Proposition \ref{proposition-maps-wich-identify-local-rings} applies to the ring map $C \to D$. Pick $D \to D'$ faithfully flat and ind-Zariski such that $C \to D'$ is ind-Zariski. Then $B \to D'$ is a solution to the problem posed in the proposition. \end{proof} \section{Constructing w-contractible covers} \label{section-w-contractible} \noindent In this section we construct w-contractible covers of affine schemes. \begin{definition} \label{definition-w-contractible} Let $A$ be a ring. We say $A$ is {\it w-contractible} if every faithfully flat weakly-etale ring map $A \to B$ has a section. \end{definition} \noindent We remark that by Proposition \ref{proposition-weakly-etale} an equivalent definition would be to ask that every faithfully flat, ind-\'etale ring map $A \to B$ has a section. Here is a key observation that will allow us to construct w-contractible rings. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-w-local-strictly-henselian-extremally-disconnected} Let $A$ be a ring. The following are equivalent \begin{enumerate} \item $A$ is w-contractible, \item every faithfully flat, ind-\'etale ring map $A \to B$ has a section, and \item $A$ satisfies \begin{enumerate} \item $\Spec(A)$ is w-local, \item $\pi_0(\Spec(A))$ is extremally disconnected, and \item for every maximal ideal $\mathfrak m \subset A$ the local ring $A_\mathfrak m$ is strictly henselian. \end{enumerate} \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The equivalence of (1) and (2) follows immediately from Proposition \ref{proposition-weakly-etale}. \medskip\noindent Assume (3)(a), (3)(b), and (3)(c). Let $A \to B$ be faithfully flat and ind-\'etale. We will use without further mention the fact that a flat map $A \to B$ is faithfully flat if and only if every closed point of $\Spec(A)$ is in the image of $\Spec(B) \to \Spec(A)$ We will show that $A \to B$ has a section. \medskip\noindent Let $I \subset A$ be an ideal such that $V(I) \subset \Spec(A)$ is the set of closed points of $\Spec(A)$. We may replace $B$ by the ring $C$ constructed in Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} for $A \to B$ and $I \subset A$. Thus we may assume $\Spec(B)$ is w-local such that the set of closed points of $\Spec(B)$ is $V(IB)$. In this case $A \to B$ identifies local rings by condition (3)(c) as it suffices to check this at maximal ideals of $B$ which lie over maximal ideals of $A$. Thus $A \to B$ has a section by Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-extremally-disconnected}. \medskip\noindent Assume (1) or equivalently (2). We have (3)(c) by Lemma \ref{lemma-have-sections-strictly-henselian}. Properties (3)(a) and (3)(b) follow from Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-extremally-disconnected}. \end{proof} \begin{proposition} \label{proposition-find-w-contractible} For every ring $A$ there exists a faithfully flat, ind-\'etale ring map $A \to D$ such that $D$ is w-contractible. \end{proposition} \begin{proof} Applying Lemma \ref{lemma-get-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions} to $\text{id}_A : A \to A$ we find a faithfully flat, ind-\'etale ring map $A \to C$ such that $C$ is w-local and such that every local ring at a maximal ideal of $C$ is strictly henselian. Choose an extremally disconnected space $T$ and a surjective continuous map $T \to \pi_0(\Spec(C))$, see Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-existence-projective-cover}. Note that $T$ is profinite. Apply Lemma \ref{lemma-construct-profinite} to find an ind-Zariski ring map $C \to D$ such that $\pi_0(\Spec(D)) \to \pi_0(\Spec(C))$ realizes $T \to \pi_0(\Spec(C))$ and such that $$\xymatrix{ \Spec(D) \ar[r] \ar[d] & \pi_0(\Spec(D)) \ar[d] \\ \Spec(C) \ar[r] & \pi_0(\Spec(C)) }$$ is cartesian in the category of topological spaces. Note that $\Spec(D)$ is w-local, that $\Spec(D) \to \Spec(C)$ is w-local, and that the set of closed points of $\Spec(D)$ is the inverse image of the set of closed points of $\Spec(C)$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-silly}. Thus it is still true that the local rings of $D$ at its maximal ideals are strictly henselian (as they are isomorphic to the local rings at the corresponding maximal ideals of $C$). It follows from Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-strictly-henselian-extremally-disconnected} that $D$ is w-contractible. \end{proof} \begin{remark} \label{remark-size-w-contractible} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $\kappa$ be an infinite cardinal bigger or equal than the cardinality of $A$. Then the cardinality of the ring $D$ constructed in Proposition \ref{proposition-find-w-contractible} is at most $$\kappa^{2^{2^{2^\kappa}}}.$$ Namely, the ring map $A \to D$ is constructed as a composition $$A \to A_w = A' \to C' \to C \to D.$$ Here the first three steps of the construction are carried out in the first paragraph of the proof of Lemma \ref{lemma-get-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions}. For the first step we have $|A_w| \leq \kappa$ by Remark \ref{remark-size-w}. We have $|C'| \leq \kappa$ by Remark \ref{remark-size-T}. Then $|C| \leq \kappa$ because $C$ is a localization of $(C')_w$ (it is constructed from $C'$ by an application of Lemma \ref{lemma-localize-along-closed-profinite} in the proof of Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-algebraic-residue-field-extensions}). Thus $C$ has at most $2^\kappa$ maximal ideals. Finally, the ring map $C \to D$ identifies local rings and the cardinality of the set of maximal ideals of $D$ is at most $2^{2^{2^\kappa}}$ by Topology, Remark \ref{topology-remark-size-projective-cover}. Since $D \subset \prod_{\mathfrak m \subset D} D_\mathfrak m$ we see that $D$ has at most the size displayed above. \end{remark} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-finite-finitely-presented-over-extremally-disconnected} Let $A \to B$ be a quasi-finite and finitely presented ring map. If the residue fields of $A$ are separably algebraically closed and $\Spec(A)$ is extremally disconnected, then $\Spec(B)$ is extremally disconnected. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Set $X = \Spec(A)$ and $Y = \Spec(B)$. Choose a finite partition $X = \coprod X_i$ and $X'_i \to X_i$ as in \'Etale Cohomology, Lemma \ref{etale-cohomology-lemma-decompose-quasi-finite-morphism}. Because $X$ is extremally disconnected, every constructible locally closed subset is open and closed, hence we see that $X$ is topologically the disjoint union of the strata $X_i$. Thus we may replace $X$ by the $X_i$ and assume there exists a surjective finite locally free morphism $X' \to X$ such that $(X' \times_X Y)_{red}$ is isomorphic to a finite disjoint union of copies of $X'_{red}$. Picture $$\xymatrix{ \coprod_{i = 1, \ldots, r} X' \ar[r] \ar[d] & Y \ar[d] \\ X' \ar[r] & X }$$ The assumption on the residue fields of $A$ implies that this diagram is a fibre product diagram on underlying sets of points (details omitted). Since $X$ is extremally disconnected and $X'$ is Hausdorff (Lemma \ref{lemma-profinite-goes-up}), the continuous map $X' \to X$ has a continuous section $\sigma$. Then $\coprod_{i = 1, \ldots, r} \sigma(X) \to Y$ is a bijective continuous map. By Topology, Lemma \ref{topology-lemma-bijective-map} we see that it is a homeomorphism and the proof is done. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-finite-finitely-presented-over-w-contractible} Let $A \to B$ be a finite and finitely presented ring map. If $A$ is w-contractible, so is $B$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} We will use the criterion of Lemma \ref{lemma-w-local-strictly-henselian-extremally-disconnected}. Set $X = \Spec(A)$ and $Y = \Spec(B)$. As $Y \to X$ is a finite morphism, we see that the set of closed points $Y_0$ of $Y$ is the inverse image of the set of closed points $X_0$ of $X$. Moreover, every point of $Y$ specializes to a unique point of $Y_0$ as (a) this is true for $X$ and (b) the map $X \to Y$ is separated. For every $y \in Y_0$ with image $x \in X_0$ we see that $\mathcal{O}_{Y, y}$ is strictly henselian by Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-finite-over-henselian} applied to $\mathcal{O}_{X, x} \to B \otimes_A \mathcal{O}_{X, x}$. It remains to show that $Y_0$ is extremally disconnected. To do this we look at $X_0 \times_X Y \to X_0$ where $X_0 \subset X$ is the reduced induced scheme structure. Note that the underlying topological space of $X_0 \times_X Y$ agrees with $Y_0$. Now the desired result follows from Lemma \ref{lemma-finite-finitely-presented-over-extremally-disconnected}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-localization-w-contractible} Let $A$ be a ring. Let $Z \subset \Spec(A)$ be a closed subset of the form $Z = V(f_1, \ldots, f_r)$. Set $B = A_Z^\sim$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-localization}. If $A$ is w-contractible, so is $B$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $A_Z^\sim \to B$ be a weakly \'etale faithfully flat ring map. Consider the ring map $$A \longrightarrow A_{f_1} \times \ldots \times A_{f_r} \times B$$ this is faithful flat and weakly \'etale. If $A$ is w-contractible, then there is a section $\sigma$. Consider the morphism $$\Spec(A_Z^\sim) \to \Spec(A) \xrightarrow{\Spec(\sigma)} \coprod \Spec(A_{f_i}) \amalg \Spec(B)$$ Every point of $Z \subset \Spec(A_Z^\sim)$ maps into the component $\Spec(B)$. Since every point of $\Spec(A_Z^\sim)$ specializes to a point of $Z$ we find a morphism $\Spec(A_Z^\sim) \to \Spec(B)$ as desired. \end{proof} \section{The pro-\'etale site} \label{section-proetale} \noindent The (small) pro-\'etale site of a scheme has some remarkable properties. In particular, it has enough w-contractible objects which implies a number of useful consequences for the derived category of abelian sheaves and for inverse systems of sheaves. Thus it is well adapted to deal with some of the intricacies of working with $\ell$-adic sheaves. \medskip\noindent On the other hand, the pro-\'etale topology is a bit like the fpqc topology (see Topologies, Section \ref{topologies-section-fpqc}) in that the topos of sheaves on the small pro-\'etale site of a scheme depends on the choice of the underlying category of schemes. Thus we cannot speak of {\it the} pro-\'etale topos of a scheme. However, it will be true that the cohomology groups of a sheaf are unchanged if we enlarge our underlying category of schemes. \medskip\noindent Another curiosity is that we define pro-\'etale coverings using weakly \'etale morphisms of schemes, see More on Morphisms, Section \ref{more-morphisms-section-weakly-etale}. The reason is that, on the one hand, it is somewhat awkward to define the notion of a pro-\'etale morphism of schemes, and on the other, Proposition \ref{proposition-weakly-etale} assures us that we obtain the same sheaves with the definition that follows. \begin{definition} \label{definition-fpqc-covering} Let $T$ be a scheme. A {\it pro-\'etale covering of $T$} is a family of morphisms $\{f_i : T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$ of schemes such that each $f_i$ is weakly-\'etale and such that for every affine open $U \subset T$ there exists $n \geq 0$, a map $a : \{1, \ldots, n\} \to I$ and affine opens $V_j \subset T_{a(j)}$, $j = 1, \ldots, n$ with $\bigcup_{j = 1}^n f_{a(j)}(V_j) = U$. \end{definition} \noindent To be sure this condition implies that $T = \bigcup f_i(T_i)$. Here is a lemma that will allow us to recognize pro-\'etale coverings. It will also allow us to reduce many lemmas about pro-\'etale coverings to the corresponding results for fpqc coverings. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-recognize-proetale-covering} Let $T$ be a scheme. Let $\{f_i : T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$ be a family of morphisms of schemes with target $T$. The following are equivalent \begin{enumerate} \item $\{f_i : T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$ is a pro-\'etale covering, \item each $f_i$ is weakly \'etale and $\{f_i : T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$ is an fpqc covering, \item each $f_i$ is weakly \'etale and for every affine open $U \subset T$ there exist quasi-compact opens $U_i \subset T_i$ which are almost all empty, such that $U = \bigcup f_i(U_i)$, \item each $f_i$ is weakly \'etale and there exists an affine open covering $T = \bigcup_{\alpha \in A} U_\alpha$ and for each $\alpha \in A$ there exist $i_{\alpha, 1}, \ldots, i_{\alpha, n(\alpha)} \in I$ and quasi-compact opens $U_{\alpha, j} \subset T_{i_{\alpha, j}}$ such that $U_\alpha = \bigcup_{j = 1, \ldots, n(\alpha)} f_{i_{\alpha, j}}(U_{\alpha, j})$. \end{enumerate} If $T$ is quasi-separated, these are also equivalent to \begin{enumerate} \item[(5)] each $f_i$ is weakly \'etale, and for every $t \in T$ there exist $i_1, \ldots, i_n \in I$ and quasi-compact opens $U_j \subset T_{i_j}$ such that $\bigcup_{j = 1, \ldots, n} f_{i_j}(U_j)$ is a (not necessarily open) neighbourhood of $t$ in $T$. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The equivalence of (1) and (2) is immediate from the definitions. Hence the lemma follows from Topologies, Lemma \ref{topologies-lemma-recognize-fpqc-covering}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-etale-proetale} Any \'etale covering and any Zariski covering is a pro-\'etale covering. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This follows from the corresponding result for fpqc coverings (Topologies, Lemma \ref{topologies-lemma-zariski-etale-smooth-syntomic-fppf-fpqc}), Lemma \ref{lemma-recognize-proetale-covering}, and the fact that an \'etale morphism is a weakly \'etale morphism, see More on Morphisms, Lemma \ref{more-morphisms-lemma-when-weakly-etale}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-proetale} Let $T$ be a scheme. \begin{enumerate} \item If $T' \to T$ is an isomorphism then $\{T' \to T\}$ is a pro-\'etale covering of $T$. \item If $\{T_i \to T\}_{i\in I}$ is a pro-\'etale covering and for each $i$ we have a pro-\'etale covering $\{T_{ij} \to T_i\}_{j\in J_i}$, then $\{T_{ij} \to T\}_{i \in I, j\in J_i}$ is a pro-\'etale covering. \item If $\{T_i \to T\}_{i\in I}$ is a pro-\'etale covering and $T' \to T$ is a morphism of schemes then $\{T' \times_T T_i \to T'\}_{i\in I}$ is a pro-\'etale covering. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This follows from the fact that composition and base changes of weakly \'etale morphisms are weakly \'etale (More on Morphisms, Lemmas \ref{more-morphisms-lemma-composition-weakly-etale} and \ref{more-morphisms-lemma-base-change-weakly-etale}), Lemma \ref{lemma-recognize-proetale-covering}, and the corresponding results for fpqc coverings, see Topologies, Lemma \ref{topologies-lemma-fpqc}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-proetale-affine} Let $T$ be an affine scheme. Let $\{T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$ be a pro-\'etale covering of $T$. Then there exists a pro-\'etale covering $\{U_j \to T\}_{j = 1, \ldots, n}$ which is a refinement of $\{T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$ such that each $U_j$ is an affine scheme. Moreover, we may choose each $U_j$ to be open affine in one of the $T_i$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This follows directly from the definition. \end{proof} \noindent Thus we define the corresponding standard coverings of affines as follows. \begin{definition} \label{definition-standard-proetale} Let $T$ be an affine scheme. A {\it standard pro-\'etale covering} of $T$ is a family $\{f_i : T_i \to T\}_{i = 1, \ldots, n}$ where each $T_j$ is affine, each $f_i$ is weakly \'etale, and $T = \bigcup f_i(T_i)$. \end{definition} \noindent We interrupt the discussion for an explanation of the notion of w-contractible rings in terms of pro-\'etale coverings. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-w-contractible-proetale-cover} Let $T = \Spec(A)$ be an affine scheme. The following are equivalent \begin{enumerate} \item $A$ is w-contractible, and \item every pro-\'etale covering of $T$ can be refined by a Zariski covering of the form $T = \coprod_{i = 1, \ldots, n} U_i$. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Assume $A$ is w-contractible. By Lemma \ref{lemma-proetale-affine} it suffices to prove we can refine every standard pro-\'etale covering $\{f_i : T_i \to T\}_{i = 1, \ldots, n}$ by a Zariski covering of $T$. The morphism $\coprod T_i \to T$ is a surjective weakly \'etale morphism of affine schemes. Hence by Definition \ref{definition-w-contractible} there exists a morphism $\sigma : T \to \coprod T_i$ over $T$. Then the Zariski covering $T = \coprod \sigma^{-1}(T_i)$ refines $\{f_i : T_i \to T\}$. \medskip\noindent Conversely, assume (2). If $A \to B$ is faithfully flat and weakly \'etale, then $\{\Spec(B) \to T\}$ is a pro-\'etale covering. Hence there exists a Zariski covering $T = \coprod U_i$ and morphisms $U_i \to \Spec(B)$ over $T$. Since $T = \coprod U_i$ we obtain $T \to \Spec(B)$, i.e., an $A$-algebra map $B \to A$. This means $A$ is w-contractible. \end{proof} \noindent We follow the general outline given in Topologies, Section \ref{topologies-section-procedure} for constructing the big pro-\'etale site we will be working with. However, because we need a bit larger rings to accommodate for the size of certain constructions we modify the constructions slightly. \begin{definition} \label{definition-big-proetale-site} A {\it big pro-\'etale site} is any site $\Sch_\proetale$ as in Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-site} constructed as follows: \begin{enumerate} \item Choose any set of schemes $S_0$, and any set of pro-\'etale coverings $\text{Cov}_0$ among these schemes. \item Change the function $Bound$ of Sets, Equation (\ref{sets-equation-bound}) into $$Bound(\kappa) = \max\{\kappa^{2^{2^{2^\kappa}}}, \kappa^{\aleph_0}, \kappa^+\}.$$ \item As underlying category take any category $\Sch_\alpha$ constructed as in Sets, Lemma \ref{sets-lemma-construct-category} starting with the set $S_0$ and the function $Bound$. \item Choose any set of coverings as in Sets, Lemma \ref{sets-lemma-coverings-site} starting with the category $\Sch_\alpha$ and the class of pro-\'etale coverings, and the set $\text{Cov}_0$ chosen above. \end{enumerate} \end{definition} \noindent See the remarks following Topologies, Definition \ref{topologies-definition-big-zariski-site} for motivation and explanation regarding the definition of big sites. \medskip\noindent Before we continue with the introduction of the big and small pro-\'etale sites of a scheme, let us point out that (1) our category contains many weakly contractible objects, and (2) the topology on a big pro-\'etale site $\Sch_\proetale$ is in some sense induced from the pro-\'etale topology on the category of all schemes. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-w-contractible-is-weakly-contractible} Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site as in Definition \ref{definition-big-proetale-site}. Let $T = \Spec(A)$ be an affine object of $\Sch_\proetale$. If $A$ is w-contractible, then $T$ is a weakly contractible (Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-w-contractible}) object of $\Sch_\proetale$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $\mathcal{F} \to \mathcal{G}$ be a surjection of sheaves on $\Sch_\proetale$. Let $s \in \mathcal{G}(T)$. We have to show that $s$ is in the image of $\mathcal{F}(T) \to \mathcal{G}(T)$. We can find a covering $\{T_i \to T\}$ of $\Sch_\proetale$ such that $s$ lifts to a section of $\mathcal{F}$ over $T_i$ (Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-sheaves-injective-surjective}). By Lemma \ref{lemma-w-contractible-proetale-cover} we can refine $\{T_i \to T\}$ by a Zariski covering of the form $T = \coprod_{j = 1, \ldots, m} V_j$. Hence we get $t_j \in \mathcal{F}(U_j)$ mapping to $s|_{U_j}$. Since Zariski coverings are coverings in $\Sch_\proetale$ (Lemma \ref{lemma-etale-proetale}) we conclude that $\mathcal{F}(T) = \prod \mathcal{F}(U_j)$. Thus, taking $t = (t_1, \ldots, t_m) \in \mathcal{F}(T)$ is a section mapping to $s$. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-get-many-weakly-contractible} Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site as in Definition \ref{definition-big-proetale-site}. For every object $T$ of $\Sch_\proetale$ there exists a covering $\{T_i \to T\}$ in $\Sch_\proetale$ with each $T_i$ affine and the spectrum of a w-contractible ring. In particular, $T_i$ is weakly contractible in $\Sch_\proetale$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} For those readers who do not care about set-theoretical issues this lemma is a trivial consequence of Lemma \ref{lemma-w-contractible-is-weakly-contractible} and Proposition \ref{proposition-find-w-contractible}. Here are the details. Choose an affine open covering $T = \bigcup U_i$. Write $U_i = \Spec(A_i)$. Choose faithfully flat, ind-\'etale ring maps $A_i \to D_i$ such that $D_i$ is w-contractible as in Proposition \ref{proposition-find-w-contractible}. The family of morphisms $\{\Spec(D_i) \to T\}$ is a pro-\'etale covering. If we can show that $\Spec(D_i)$ is isomorphic to an object, say $T_i$, of $\Sch_\proetale$, then $\{T_i \to T\}$ will be combinatorially equivalent to a covering of $\Sch_\proetale$ by the construction of $\Sch_\proetale$ in Definition \ref{definition-big-proetale-site} and more precisely the application of Sets, Lemma \ref{sets-lemma-coverings-site} in the last step. To prove $\Spec(D_i)$ is isomorphic to an object of $\Sch_\proetale$, it suffices to prove that $|D_i| \leq Bound(\text{Size}(T))$ by the construction of $\Sch_\proetale$ in Definition \ref{definition-big-proetale-site} and more precisely the application of Sets, Lemma \ref{sets-lemma-construct-category} in step (3). Since $|A_i| \leq \text{size}(U_i) \leq \text{size}(T)$ by Sets, Lemmas \ref{sets-lemma-bound-affine} and \ref{sets-lemma-bound-finite-type} we get $|D_i| \leq \kappa^{2^{2^{2^\kappa}}}$ where $\kappa = \text{size}(T)$ by Remark \ref{remark-size-w-contractible}. Thus by our choice of the function $Bound$ in Definition \ref{definition-big-proetale-site} we win. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-proetale-induced} Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site as in Definition \ref{definition-big-proetale-site}. Let $T \in \Ob(\Sch_\proetale)$. Let $\{T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$ be an arbitrary pro-\'etale covering of $T$. There exists a covering $\{U_j \to T\}_{j \in J}$ of $T$ in the site $\Sch_\proetale$ which refines $\{T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Namely, we first let $\{V_k \to T\}$ be a covering as in Lemma \ref{lemma-get-many-weakly-contractible}. Then the pro-\'etale coverings $\{T_i \times_T V_k \to V_k\}$ can be refined by a finite disjoint open covering $V_k = V_{k, 1} \amalg \ldots \amalg V_{k, n_k}$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-w-contractible-proetale-cover}. Then $\{V_{k, i} \to T\}$ is a covering of $\Sch_\proetale$ which refines $\{T_i \to T\}_{i \in I}$. \end{proof} \begin{definition} \label{definition-big-small-proetale} Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site containing $S$. \begin{enumerate} \item The {\it big pro-\'etale site of $S$}, denoted $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$, is the site $\Sch_\proetale/S$ introduced in Sites, Section \ref{sites-section-localize}. \item The {\it small pro-\'etale site of $S$}, which we denote $S_\proetale$, is the full subcategory of $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ whose objects are those $U/S$ such that $U \to S$ is weakly \'etale. A covering of $S_\proetale$ is any covering $\{U_i \to U\}$ of $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ with $U \in \Ob(S_\proetale)$. \item The {\it big affine pro-\'etale site of $S$}, denoted $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$, is the full subcategory of $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ whose objects are affine $U/S$. A covering of $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ is any covering $\{U_i \to U\}$ of $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ which is a standard pro-\'etale covering. \end{enumerate} \end{definition} \noindent It is not completely clear that the small pro-\'etale site and the big affine pro-\'etale site are sites. We check this now. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-verify-site-proetale} Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site containing $S$. Both $S_\proetale$ and $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ are sites. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let us show that $S_\proetale$ is a site. It is a category with a given set of families of morphisms with fixed target. Thus we have to show properties (1), (2) and (3) of Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-site}. Since $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ is a site, it suffices to prove that given any covering $\{U_i \to U\}$ of $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ with $U \in \Ob(S_\proetale)$ we also have $U_i \in \Ob(S_\proetale)$. This follows from the definitions as the composition of weakly \'etale morphisms is weakly \'etale. \medskip\noindent To show that $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ is a site, reasoning as above, it suffices to show that the collection of standard pro-\'etale coverings of affines satisfies properties (1), (2) and (3) of Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-site}. This follows from Lemma \ref{lemma-recognize-proetale-covering} and the corresponding result for standard fpqc coverings (Topologies, Lemma \ref{topologies-lemma-fpqc-affine-axioms}). \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-fibre-products-proetale} Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site containing $S$. Let $\Sch$ be the category of all schemes. \begin{enumerate} \item The categories $\Sch_\proetale$, $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$, $S_\proetale$, and $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ have fibre products agreeing with fibre products in $\Sch$. \item The categories $\Sch_\proetale$, $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$, $S_\proetale$ have equalizers agreeing with equalizers in $\Sch$. \item The categories $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$, and $S_\proetale$ both have a final object, namely $S/S$. \item The category $\Sch_\proetale$ has a final object agreeing with the final object of $\Sch$, namely $\Spec(\mathbf{Z})$. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The category $\Sch_\proetale$ contains $\Spec(\mathbf{Z})$ and is closed under products and fibre products by construction, see Sets, Lemma \ref{sets-lemma-what-is-in-it}. Suppose we have $U \to S$, $V \to U$, $W \to U$ morphisms of schemes with $U, V, W \in \Ob(\Sch_\proetale)$. The fibre product $V \times_U W$ in $\Sch_\proetale$ is a fibre product in $\Sch$ and is the fibre product of $V/S$ with $W/S$ over $U/S$ in the category of all schemes over $S$, and hence also a fibre product in $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$. This proves the result for $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$. If $U \to S$, $V \to U$ and $W \to U$ are weakly \'etale then so is $V \times_U W \to S$ (see More on Morphisms, Section \ref{more-morphisms-section-weakly-etale}) and hence we get fibre products for $S_\proetale$. If $U, V, W$ are affine, so is $V \times_U W$ and hence we get fibre products for $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$. \medskip\noindent Let $a, b : U \to V$ be two morphisms in $\Sch_\proetale$. In this case the equalizer of $a$ and $b$ (in the category of schemes) is $$V \times_{\Delta_{V/\Spec(\mathbf{Z})}, V \times_{\Spec(\mathbf{Z})} V, (a, b)} (U \times_{\Spec(\mathbf{Z})} U)$$ which is an object of $\Sch_\proetale$ by what we saw above. Thus $\Sch_\proetale$ has equalizers. If $a$ and $b$ are morphisms over $S$, then the equalizer (in the category of schemes) is also given by $$V \times_{\Delta_{V/S}, V \times_S V, (a, b)} (U \times_S U)$$ hence we see that $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ has equalizers. Moreover, if $U$ and $V$ are weakly-\'etale over $S$, then so is the equalizer above as a fibre product of schemes weakly \'etale over $S$. Thus $S_\proetale$ has equalizers. The statements on final objects is clear. \end{proof} \noindent Next, we check that the big affine pro-\'etale site defines the same topos as the big pro-\'etale site. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-affine-big-site-proetale} Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site containing $S$. The functor $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale \to (\Sch/S)_\proetale$ is a special cocontinuous functor. Hence it induces an equivalence of topoi from $\Sh((\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale)$ to $\Sh((\Sch/S)_\proetale)$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The notion of a special cocontinuous functor is introduced in Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-special-cocontinuous-functor}. Thus we have to verify assumptions (1) -- (5) of Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-equivalence}. Denote the inclusion functor $u : (\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale \to (\Sch/S)_\proetale$. Being cocontinuous just means that any pro-\'etale covering of $T/S$, $T$ affine, can be refined by a standard pro-\'etale covering of $T$. This is the content of Lemma \ref{lemma-proetale-affine}. Hence (1) holds. We see $u$ is continuous simply because a standard pro-\'etale covering is a pro-\'etale covering. Hence (2) holds. Parts (3) and (4) follow immediately from the fact that $u$ is fully faithful. And finally condition (5) follows from the fact that every scheme has an affine open covering. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-put-in-T} Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site. Let $f : T \to S$ be a morphism in $\Sch_\proetale$. The functor $T_\proetale \to (\Sch/S)_\proetale$ is cocontinuous and induces a morphism of topoi $$i_f : \Sh(T_\proetale) \longrightarrow \Sh((\Sch/S)_\proetale)$$ For a sheaf $\mathcal{G}$ on $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ we have the formula $(i_f^{-1}\mathcal{G})(U/T) = \mathcal{G}(U/S)$. The functor $i_f^{-1}$ also has a left adjoint $i_{f, !}$ which commutes with fibre products and equalizers. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Denote the functor $u : T_\proetale \to (\Sch/S)_\proetale$. In other words, given a weakly \'etale morphism $j : U \to T$ corresponding to an object of $T_\proetale$ we set $u(U \to T) = (f \circ j : U \to S)$. This functor commutes with fibre products, see Lemma \ref{lemma-fibre-products-proetale}. Moreover, $T_\proetale$ has equalizers and $u$ commutes with them by Lemma \ref{lemma-fibre-products-proetale}. It is clearly cocontinuous. It is also continuous as $u$ transforms coverings to coverings and commutes with fibre products. Hence the lemma follows from Sites, Lemmas \ref{sites-lemma-when-shriek} and \ref{sites-lemma-preserve-equalizers}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-at-the-bottom} Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site containing $S$. The inclusion functor $S_\proetale \to (\Sch/S)_\proetale$ satisfies the hypotheses of Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-bigger-site} and hence induces a morphism of sites $$\pi_S : (\Sch/S)_\proetale \longrightarrow S_\proetale$$ and a morphism of topoi $$i_S : \Sh(S_\proetale) \longrightarrow \Sh((\Sch/S)_\proetale)$$ such that $\pi_S \circ i_S = \text{id}$. Moreover, $i_S = i_{\text{id}_S}$ with $i_{\text{id}_S}$ as in Lemma \ref{lemma-put-in-T}. In particular the functor $i_S^{-1} = \pi_{S, *}$ is described by the rule $i_S^{-1}(\mathcal{G})(U/S) = \mathcal{G}(U/S)$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} In this case the functor $u : S_\proetale \to (\Sch/S)_\proetale$, in addition to the properties seen in the proof of Lemma \ref{lemma-put-in-T} above, also is fully faithful and transforms the final object into the final object. The lemma follows from Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-bigger-site}. \end{proof} \begin{definition} \label{definition-restriction-small-proetale} In the situation of Lemma \ref{lemma-at-the-bottom} the functor $i_S^{-1} = \pi_{S, *}$ is often called the {\it restriction to the small pro-\'etale site}, and for a sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ on the big pro-\'etale site we denote $\mathcal{F}|_{S_\proetale}$ this restriction. \end{definition} \noindent With this notation in place we have for a sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ on the big site and a sheaf $\mathcal{G}$ on the big site that \begin{align*} \Mor_{\Sh(S_\proetale)}(\mathcal{F}|_{S_\proetale}, \mathcal{G}) & = \Mor_{\Sh((\Sch/S)_\proetale)}(\mathcal{F}, i_{S, *}\mathcal{G}) \\ \Mor_{\Sh(S_\proetale)}(\mathcal{G}, \mathcal{F}|_{S_\proetale}) & = \Mor_{\Sh((\Sch/S)_\proetale)}(\pi_S^{-1}\mathcal{G}, \mathcal{F}) \end{align*} Moreover, we have $(i_{S, *}\mathcal{G})|_{S_\proetale} = \mathcal{G}$ and we have $(\pi_S^{-1}\mathcal{G})|_{S_\proetale} = \mathcal{G}$. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-morphism-big} Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site. Let $f : T \to S$ be a morphism in $\Sch_\proetale$. The functor $$u : (\Sch/T)_\proetale \longrightarrow (\Sch/S)_\proetale, \quad V/T \longmapsto V/S$$ is cocontinuous, and has a continuous right adjoint $$v : (\Sch/S)_\proetale \longrightarrow (\Sch/T)_\proetale, \quad (U \to S) \longmapsto (U \times_S T \to T).$$ They induce the same morphism of topoi $$f_{big} : \Sh((\Sch/T)_\proetale) \longrightarrow \Sh((\Sch/S)_\proetale)$$ We have $f_{big}^{-1}(\mathcal{G})(U/T) = \mathcal{G}(U/S)$. We have $f_{big, *}(\mathcal{F})(U/S) = \mathcal{F}(U \times_S T/T)$. Also, $f_{big}^{-1}$ has a left adjoint $f_{big!}$ which commutes with fibre products and equalizers. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The functor $u$ is cocontinuous, continuous, and commutes with fibre products and equalizers (details omitted; compare with proof of Lemma \ref{lemma-put-in-T}). Hence Sites, Lemmas \ref{sites-lemma-when-shriek} and \ref{sites-lemma-preserve-equalizers} apply and we deduce the formula for $f_{big}^{-1}$ and the existence of $f_{big!}$. Moreover, the functor $v$ is a right adjoint because given $U/T$ and $V/S$ we have $\Mor_S(u(U), V) = \Mor_T(U, V \times_S T)$ as desired. Thus we may apply Sites, Lemmas \ref{sites-lemma-have-functor-other-way} and \ref{sites-lemma-have-functor-other-way-morphism} to get the formula for $f_{big, *}$. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-morphism-big-small} Let $\Sch_\proetale$ be a big pro-\'etale site. Let $f : T \to S$ be a morphism in $\Sch_\proetale$. \begin{enumerate} \item We have $i_f = f_{big} \circ i_T$ with $i_f$ as in Lemma \ref{lemma-put-in-T} and $i_T$ as in Lemma \ref{lemma-at-the-bottom}. \item The functor $S_\proetale \to T_\proetale$, $(U \to S) \mapsto (U \times_S T \to T)$ is continuous and induces a morphism of topoi $$f_{small} : \Sh(T_\proetale) \longrightarrow \Sh(S_\proetale).$$ We have $f_{small, *}(\mathcal{F})(U/S) = \mathcal{F}(U \times_S T/T)$. \item We have a commutative diagram of morphisms of sites $$\xymatrix{ T_\proetale \ar[d]_{f_{small}} & (\Sch/T)_\proetale \ar[d]^{f_{big}} \ar[l]^{\pi_T}\\ S_\proetale & (\Sch/S)_\proetale \ar[l]_{\pi_S} }$$ so that $f_{small} \circ \pi_T = \pi_S \circ f_{big}$ as morphisms of topoi. \item We have $f_{small} = \pi_S \circ f_{big} \circ i_T = \pi_S \circ i_f$. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The equality $i_f = f_{big} \circ i_T$ follows from the equality $i_f^{-1} = i_T^{-1} \circ f_{big}^{-1}$ which is clear from the descriptions of these functors above. Thus we see (1). \medskip\noindent The functor $u : S_\proetale \to T_\proetale$, $u(U \to S) = (U \times_S T \to T)$ transforms coverings into coverings and commutes with fibre products, see Lemmas \ref{lemma-proetale} and \ref{lemma-fibre-products-proetale}. Moreover, both $S_\proetale$, $T_\proetale$ have final objects, namely $S/S$ and $T/T$ and $u(S/S) = T/T$. Hence by Sites, Proposition \ref{sites-proposition-get-morphism} the functor $u$ corresponds to a morphism of sites $T_\proetale \to S_\proetale$. This in turn gives rise to the morphism of topoi, see Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-morphism-sites-topoi}. The description of the pushforward is clear from these references. \medskip\noindent Part (3) follows because $\pi_S$ and $\pi_T$ are given by the inclusion functors and $f_{small}$ and $f_{big}$ by the base change functors $U \mapsto U \times_S T$. \medskip\noindent Statement (4) follows from (3) by precomposing with $i_T$. \end{proof} \noindent In the situation of the lemma, using the terminology of Definition \ref{definition-restriction-small-proetale} we have: for $\mathcal{F}$ a sheaf on the big pro-\'etale site of $T$ $$(f_{big, *}\mathcal{F})|_{S_\proetale} = f_{small, *}(\mathcal{F}|_{T_\proetale}),$$ This equality is clear from the commutativity of the diagram of sites of the lemma, since restriction to the small pro-\'etale site of $T$, resp.\ $S$ is given by $\pi_{T, *}$, resp.\ $\pi_{S, *}$. A similar formula involving pullbacks and restrictions is false. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-composition-proetale} Given schemes $X$, $Y$, $Y$ in $\Sch_\proetale$ and morphisms $f : X \to Y$, $g : Y \to Z$ we have $g_{big} \circ f_{big} = (g \circ f)_{big}$ and $g_{small} \circ f_{small} = (g \circ f)_{small}$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This follows from the simple description of pushforward and pullback for the functors on the big sites from Lemma \ref{lemma-morphism-big}. For the functors on the small sites this follows from the description of the pushforward functors in Lemma \ref{lemma-morphism-big-small}. \end{proof} \noindent We can think about a sheaf on the big pro-\'etale site of $S$ as a collection of sheaves on the small pro-\'etale site on schemes over $S$. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-characterize-sheaf-big} Let $S$ be a scheme contained in a big pro-\'etale site $\Sch_\proetale$. A sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ on the big pro-\'etale site $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ is given by the following data: \begin{enumerate} \item for every $T/S \in \Ob((\Sch/S)_\proetale)$ a sheaf $\mathcal{F}_T$ on $T_\proetale$, \item for every $f : T' \to T$ in $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ a map $c_f : f_{small}^{-1}\mathcal{F}_T \to \mathcal{F}_{T'}$. \end{enumerate} These data are subject to the following conditions: \begin{enumerate} \item[(a)] given any $f : T' \to T$ and $g : T'' \to T'$ in $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ the composition $g_{small}^{-1}c_f \circ c_g$ is equal to $c_{f \circ g}$, and \item[(b)] if $f : T' \to T$ in $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$ is weakly \'etale then $c_f$ is an isomorphism. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Identical to the proof of Topologies, Lemma \ref{topologies-lemma-characterize-sheaf-big-etale}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-alternative} Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $S_{affine, \proetale}$ denote the full subcategory of $S_\proetale$ consisting of affine objects. A covering of $S_{affine, \proetale}$ will be a standard \'etale covering, see Definition \ref{definition-standard-proetale}. Then restriction $$\mathcal{F} \longmapsto \mathcal{F}|_{S_{affine, \etale}}$$ defines an equivalence of topoi $\Sh(S_\proetale) \cong \Sh(S_{affine, \proetale})$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} This you can show directly from the definitions, and is a good exercise. But it also follows immediately from Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-equivalence} by checking that the inclusion functor $S_{affine, \proetale} \to S_\proetale$ is a special cocontinuous functor (see Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-special-cocontinuous-functor}). \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-affine-alternative} Let $S$ be an affine scheme. Let $S_{app}$ denote the full subcategory of $S_\proetale$ consisting of affine objects $U$ such that $\mathcal{O}(S) \to \mathcal{O}(U)$ is ind-\'etale. A covering of $S_{app}$ will be a standard pro-\'etale covering, see Definition \ref{definition-standard-proetale}. Then restriction $$\mathcal{F} \longmapsto \mathcal{F}|_{S_{app}}$$ defines an equivalence of topoi $\Sh(S_\proetale) \cong \Sh(S_{app})$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} By Lemma \ref{lemma-alternative} we may replace $S_\proetale$ by $S_{affine, \proetale}$. The lemma follows from Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-equivalence} by checking that the inclusion functor $S_{app} \to S_{affine, \proetale}$ is a special cocontinuous functor, see Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-special-cocontinuous-functor}. The conditions of Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-equivalence} follow immediately from the definition and the facts (a) any object $U$ of $S_{affine, \proetale}$ has a covering $\{V \to U\}$ with $V$ ind-\'etale over $X$ (Proposition \ref{proposition-weakly-etale}) and (b) the functor $u$ is fully faithful. \end{proof} \noindent Next we show that cohomology of sheaves is independent of the choice of a partial universe. Namely, the functor $g_*$ of the lemma below is an embedding of pro-\'etale topoi which does not change cohomology. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-proetale-cohomology-independent-partial-universe} Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $S_\proetale \subset S_\proetale'$ be two small pro-\'etale sites of $S$ as constructed in Definition \ref{definition-big-small-proetale}. Then the inclusion functor satisfies the assumptions of Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-bigger-site}. Hence there exist morphisms of topoi $$\xymatrix{ \Sh(S_\proetale) \ar[r]^g & \Sh(S_\proetale') \ar[r]^f & \Sh(S_\proetale) }$$ whose composition is isomorphic to the identity and with $f_* = g^{-1}$. Moreover, \begin{enumerate} \item for $\mathcal{F}' \in \textit{Ab}(S_\proetale')$ we have $H^p(S_\proetale', \mathcal{F}') = H^p(S_\proetale, g^{-1}\mathcal{F}')$, \item for $\mathcal{F} \in \textit{Ab}(S_\proetale)$ we have $$H^p(S_\proetale, \mathcal{F}) = H^p(S_\proetale', g_*\mathcal{F}) = H^p(S_\proetale', f^{-1}\mathcal{F}).$$ \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The inclusion functor is fully faithful and continuous. We have seen that $S_\proetale$ and $S_\proetale'$ have fibre products and final objects and that our functor commutes with these (Lemma \ref{lemma-fibre-products-proetale}). It follows from Lemma \ref{lemma-proetale-induced} that the inclusion functor is cocontinuous. Hence the existence of $f$ and $g$ follows from Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-bigger-site}. The equality in (1) is Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-cohomology-bigger-site}. Part (2) follows from (1) as $\mathcal{F} = g^{-1}g_*\mathcal{F} = g^{-1}f^{-1}\mathcal{F}$. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-proetale-subcanonical} Let $S$ be a scheme. The topology on each of the pro-\'etale sites $S_\proetale$, $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$, $S_{affine, \proetale}$, and $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ is subcanonical. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Combine Lemma \ref{lemma-recognize-proetale-covering} and Descent, Lemma \ref{descent-lemma-fpqc-universal-effective-epimorphisms}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-proetale-enough-w-contractible} Let $S$ be a scheme. The pro-\'etale sites $S_\proetale$, $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$, $S_{affine, \proetale}$, and $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ and if $S$ is affine $S_{app}$ have enough quasi-compact, weakly contractible objects, see Sites, Definition \ref{sites-definition-w-contractible}. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Follows immediately from Lemma \ref{lemma-get-many-weakly-contractible}. \end{proof} \section{Points of the pro-\'etale site} \label{section-points} \noindent We first apply Deligne's criterion to show that there are enough points. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-points-proetale} Let $S$ be a scheme. The pro-\'etale sites $S_\proetale$, $(\Sch/S)_\proetale$, $S_{affine, \proetale}$, and $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ have enough points. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The big topos is equivalent to the topos defined by $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-affine-big-site-proetale}. The topos of sheaves on $S_\proetale$ is equivalent to the topos associated to $S_{affine, \proetale}$, see Lemma \ref{lemma-alternative}. The result for the sites $(\textit{Aff}/S)_\proetale$ and $S_{affine, \proetale}$ follows immediately from Deligne's result Sites, Proposition \ref{sites-proposition-criterion-points}. \end{proof} \noindent Let $S$ be a scheme. Let $\overline{s} : \Spec(k) \to S$ be a geometric point. We define a {\it pro-\'etale neighbourhood} of $\overline{s}$ to be a commutative diagram $$\xymatrix{ \Spec(k) \ar[r]_-{\overline{u}} \ar[rd]_{\overline{s}} & U \ar[d] \\ & S }$$ with $U \to S$ weakly \'etale. In exactly the same manner as in \'Etale Cohomology, Lemma \ref{etale-cohomology-lemma-cofinal-etale} one shows that the category of pro-\'etale neighbourhoods of $\overline{s}$ is cofiltered. Moreover, if $(U, \overline{u})$ is a pro-\'etale neighbourhood, and if $\{U_i \to U\}$ is a pro-\'etale covering, then there exists an $i$ and a lift of $\overline{u}$ to a geometric point $\overline{u}_i$ of $U_i$. For $\mathcal{F}$ in $\Sh(S_\proetale)$ define the {\it stalk of $\mathcal{F}$ at $\overline{s}$} by the formula $$\mathcal{F}_{\overline{s}} = \colim_{(U, \overline{u})} \mathcal{F}(U)$$ where the colimit is over all pro-\'etale neighbourhoods $(U, \overline{u})$ of $\overline{s}$ with $U \in \Ob(S_\proetale)$. A formal argument using the facts above shows the functor $\mathcal{F} \mapsto \mathcal{F}_{\overline{s}}$ defines a point of the topos $\Sh(S_\proetale)$: it is an exact functor which commutes with arbitrary colimits. In fact, this functor has another description. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-classical-point} In the situation above the scheme $\Spec(\mathcal{O}_{S, \overline{s}}^{sh})$ is an object of $X_\proetale$ and there is a canonical isomorphism $$\mathcal{F}(\Spec(\mathcal{O}_{S, \overline{s}}^{sh})) = \mathcal{F}_{\overline{s}}$$ functorial in $\mathcal{F}$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} The first statement is clear from the construction of the strict henselization as a filtered colimit of \'etale algebras over $S$, or by the characterization of weakly \'etale morphisms of More on Morphisms, Lemma \ref{more-morphisms-lemma-weakly-etale-strictly-henselian-local-rings}. The second statement follows as by Olivier's theorem (More on Algebra, Theorem \ref{more-algebra-theorem-olivier}) the scheme $\Spec(\mathcal{O}_{S, \overline{s}}^{sh})$ is an initial object of the category of pro-\'etale neighbourhoods of $\overline{s}$. \end{proof} \noindent Contrary to the situation with the \'etale topos of $S$ it is not true that every point of $\Sh(S_\proetale)$ is of this form, and it is not true that the collection of points associated to geometric point is conservative. Namely, suppose that $S = \Spec(k)$ where $k$ is an algebraically closed field. Let $A$ be an abelian group. Consider the sheaf $\mathcal{F}$ on $S_\proetale$ defined by the rule $$\mathcal{F}(U) = \frac{\{\text{functions }U \to A\}}{\{\text{locally constant functions}\}}$$ Then $\mathcal{F}(U) = 0$ if $U = S = \Spec(k)$ but in general $\mathcal{F}$ is not zero. Namely, $S_\proetale$ contains objects with infinitely many points. For example, let $E = \lim E_n$ be an inverse limit of finite sets with surjective transition maps, e.g., $E = \lim \mathbf{Z}/n\mathbf{Z}$. The scheme $\Spec(\colim \text{Map}(E_n, k))$ is an object of $S_\proetale$ because $\colim \text{Map}(E_n, k)$ is weakly \'etale (even ind-Zariski) over $k$. Thus $\mathcal{F}$ is a nonzero abelian sheaf whose stalk at the unique geometric point of $S$ is zero. \medskip\noindent The solution is to use the existence of quasi-compact, weakly contractible objects. First, there are enough quasi-compact, weakly contractible objects by Lemma \ref{lemma-proetale-enough-w-contractible}. Second, if $W \in \Ob(S_\proetale)$ is quasi-compact, weakly contractible, then the functor $$\Sh(S_\proetale) \longrightarrow \textit{Sets},\quad \mathcal{F} \longmapsto \mathcal{F}(W)$$ is an exact functor $\Sh(S_\proetale) \to \textit{Sets}$ which commutes with all limits. The functor $$\textit{Ab}(S_\proetale) \longrightarrow \textit{Ab},\quad \mathcal{F} \longmapsto \mathcal{F}(W)$$ is exact and commutes with direct sums (as $W$ is quasi-compact, see Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-lemma-directed-colimits-sections}), hence commutes with all limits and colimits. Moreover, we can check exactness of a complex of abelian sheaves by evaluation at the quasi-compact, weakly contractible objects of $S_\proetale$, see Cohomology on Sites, Proposition \ref{sites-cohomology-proposition-enough-weakly-contractibles}. \section{Compact generation} \label{section-compact-generation} \noindent Let $S$ be a scheme. The site $S_\proetale$ has enough quasi-compact, weakly contractible objects $U$. For any sheaf of rings $\mathcal{A}$ on $S_\proetale$ the corresponding objects $j_{U!}\mathcal{A}_U$ are compact objects of the derived category $D(\mathcal{A})$, see Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-quasi-compact-weakly-contractible-compact}. Since every complex of $\mathcal{A}$-modules is quasi-isomorphic to a complex whose terms are direct sums of the modules $j_{U!}\mathcal{A}_U$ (details omitted). Thus we see that $D(\mathcal{A})$ is generated by its compact objects. \medskip\noindent The same argument works for the big pro-\'etale site of $S$. \section{Generalities on derived completion} \label{section-derived-completion} \noindent We urge the reader to skip this section on a first reading. \medskip\noindent The algebra version of this material can be found in More on Algebra, Section \ref{more-algebra-section-derived-completion}. Let $\mathcal{O}$ be a sheaf of rings on a site $\mathcal{C}$. Let $f$ be a global section of $\mathcal{O}$. We denote $\mathcal{O}_f$ the sheaf associated to the presheaf of localizations $U \mapsto \mathcal{O}(U)_f$. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-map-twice-localize} Let $(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{O})$ be a ringed site. Let $f$ be a global section of $\mathcal{O}$. \begin{enumerate} \item For $L, N \in D(\mathcal{O}_f)$ we have $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(L, N) = R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_f}(L, N)$. In particular the two $\mathcal{O}_f$-structures on $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(L, N)$ agree. \item For $K \in D(\mathcal{O})$ and $L \in D(\mathcal{O}_f)$ we have $$R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(L, K) = R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_f}(L, R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K))$$ In particular $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K)) = R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K)$. \item If $g$ is a second global section of $\mathcal{O}$, then $$R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_g, K)) = R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_{gf}, K).$$ \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Proof of (1). Let $\mathcal{J}^\bullet$ be a K-injective complex of $\mathcal{O}_f$-modules representing $N$. By Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-K-injective-flat} it follows that $\mathcal{J}^\bullet$ is a K-injective complex of $\mathcal{O}$-modules as well. Let $\mathcal{F}^\bullet$ be a complex of $\mathcal{O}_f$-modules representing $L$. Then $$R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(L, N) = R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{F}^\bullet, \mathcal{J}^\bullet) = R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_f}(\mathcal{F}^\bullet, \mathcal{J}^\bullet)$$ by Modules on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-modules-lemma-epimorphism-modules} because $\mathcal{J}^\bullet$ is a K-injective complex of $\mathcal{O}$ and of $\mathcal{O}_f$-modules. \medskip\noindent Proof of (2). Let $\mathcal{I}^\bullet$ be a K-injective complex of $\mathcal{O}$-modules representing $K$. Then $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K)$ is represented by $\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, \mathcal{I}^\bullet)$ which is a K-injective complex of $\mathcal{O}_f$-modules and of $\mathcal{O}$-modules by Cohomology on Sites, Lemmas \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-hom-K-injective} and \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-K-injective-flat}. Let $\mathcal{F}^\bullet$ be a complex of $\mathcal{O}_f$-modules representing $L$. Then $$R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(L, K) = R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{F}^\bullet, \mathcal{I}^\bullet) = R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_f}(\mathcal{F}^\bullet, \SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, \mathcal{I}^\bullet))$$ by Modules on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-modules-lemma-adjoint-hom-restrict} and because $\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, \mathcal{I}^\bullet)$ is a K-injective complex of $\mathcal{O}_f$-modules. \medskip\noindent Proof of (3). This follows from the fact that $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_g, \mathcal{I}^\bullet)$ is K-injective as a complex of $\mathcal{O}$-modules and the fact that $\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, \SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_g, \mathcal{H})) = \SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_{gf}, \mathcal{H})$ for all sheaves of $\mathcal{O}$-modules $\mathcal{H}$. \end{proof} \noindent Let $K \in D(\mathcal{O})$. We denote $T(K, f)$ a derived limit (Derived Categories, Definition \ref{derived-definition-derived-limit}) of the system $$\ldots \to K \xrightarrow{f} K \xrightarrow{f} K$$ in $D(\mathcal{O})$. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-hom-from-Af} Let $(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{O})$ be a ringed site. Let $f$ be a global section of $\mathcal{O}$. Let $K \in D(\mathcal{O})$. The following are equivalent \begin{enumerate} \item $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K) = 0$, \item $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(L, K) = 0$ for all $L$ in $D(\mathcal{O}_f)$, \item $T(K, f) = 0$. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} It is clear that (2) implies (1). The implication (1) $\Rightarrow$ (2) follows from Lemma \ref{lemma-map-twice-localize}. A free resolution of the $\mathcal{O}$-module $\mathcal{O}_f$ is given by $$0 \to \bigoplus\nolimits_{n \in \mathbf{N}} \mathcal{O} \to \bigoplus\nolimits_{n \in \mathbf{N}} \mathcal{O} \to \mathcal{O}_f \to 0$$ where the first map sends a local section $(x_0, x_1, \ldots)$ to $(fx_0 - x_1, fx_1 - x_2, \ldots)$ and the second map sends $(x_0, x_1, \ldots)$ to $x_0 + x_1/f + x_2/f^2 + \ldots$. Applying $\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(-, \mathcal{I}^\bullet)$ where $\mathcal{I}^\bullet$ is a K-injective complex of $\mathcal{O}$-modules representing $K$ we get a short exact sequence of complexes $$0 \to \SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, \mathcal{I}^\bullet) \to \prod \mathcal{I}^\bullet \to \prod \mathcal{I}^\bullet \to 0$$ because $\mathcal{I}^n$ is an injective $\mathcal{O}$-module. The products are products in $D(\mathcal{O})$, see Injectives, Lemma \ref{injectives-lemma-derived-products}. This means that the object $T(K, f)$ is a representative of $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K)$ in $D(\mathcal{O})$. Thus the equivalence of (1) and (3). \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-ideal-of-elements-complete-wrt} Let $(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{O})$ be a ringed site. Let $K \in D(\mathcal{O})$. The rule which associates to $U$ the set $\mathcal{I}(U)$ of sections $f \in \mathcal{O}(U)$ such that $T(K|_U, f) = 0$ is a sheaf of ideals in $\mathcal{O}$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} We will use the results of Lemma \ref{lemma-hom-from-Af} without further mention. If $f \in \mathcal{I}(U)$, and $g \in \mathcal{O}(U)$, then $\mathcal{O}_{U, gf}$ is an $\mathcal{O}_{U, f}$-module hence $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_{U, gf}, K|_U) = 0$, hence $gf \in \mathcal{I}(U)$. Suppose $f, g \in \mathcal{O}(U)$. Then there is a short exact sequence $$0 \to \mathcal{O}_{U, f + g} \to \mathcal{O}_{U, f(f + g)} \oplus \mathcal{O}_{U, g(f + g)} \to \mathcal{O}_{U, gf(f + g)} \to 0$$ because $f, g$ generate the unit ideal in $\mathcal{O}(U)_{f + g}$. This follows from Algebra, Lemma \ref{algebra-lemma-standard-covering} and the easy fact that the last arrow is surjective. Because $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}( - , K|_U)$ is an exact functor of triangulated categories the vanishing of $R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_U}(\mathcal{O}_{U, f(f + g)}, K|_U)$, $R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_U}(\mathcal{O}_{U, g(f + g)}, K|_U)$, and $R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_U}(\mathcal{O}_{U, gf(f + g)}, K|_U)$, implies the vanishing of $R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_U}(\mathcal{O}_{U, f + g}, K|_U)$. We omit the verification of the sheaf condition. \end{proof} \noindent We can make the following definition for any ringed site. \begin{definition} \label{definition-derived-complete} Let $(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{O})$ be a ringed site. Let $\mathcal{I} \subset \mathcal{O}$ be a sheaf of ideals. Let $K \in D(\mathcal{O})$. We say that $K$ is {\it derived complete with respect to $\mathcal{I}$} if for every object $U$ of $\mathcal{C}$ and $f \in \mathcal{I}(U)$ the object $T(K|_U, f)$ of $D(\mathcal{O}_U)$ is zero. \end{definition} \noindent It is clear that the full subcategory $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}) = D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}, \mathcal{I}) \subset D(\mathcal{O})$ consisting of derived complete objects is a saturated triangulated subcategory, see Derived Categories, Definitions \ref{derived-definition-triangulated-subcategory} and \ref{derived-definition-saturated}. This subcategory is preserved under products and homotopy limits in $D(\mathcal{O})$. But it is not preserved under countable direct sums in general. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-derived-complete-internal-hom} Let $(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{O})$ be a ringed site. Let $\mathcal{I} \subset \mathcal{O}$ be a sheaf of ideals. If $K \in D(\mathcal{O})$ and $L \in D_{comp}(\mathcal{O})$, then $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(K, L) \in D_{comp}(\mathcal{O})$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $U$ be an object of $\mathcal{C}$ and let $f \in \mathcal{I}(U)$. Recall that $$\Hom_{D(\mathcal{O}_U)}(\mathcal{O}_{U, f}, R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(K, L)|_U) = \Hom_{D(\mathcal{O}_U)}( K|_U \otimes_{\mathcal{O}_U}^\mathbf{L} \mathcal{O}_{U, f}, L|_U)$$ by Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-internal-hom}. The right hand side is zero by Lemma \ref{lemma-hom-from-Af} and the relationship between internal hom and actual hom, see Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-section-RHom-over-U}. The same vanishing holds for all $U'/U$. Thus the object $R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_U}(\mathcal{O}_{U, f}, R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(K, L)|_U)$ of $D(\mathcal{O}_U)$ has vanishing $0$th cohomology sheaf (by locus citatus). Similarly for the other cohomology sheaves, i.e., $R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_U}(\mathcal{O}_{U, f}, R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(K, L)|_U)$ is zero in $D(\mathcal{O}_U)$. By Lemma \ref{lemma-hom-from-Af} we conclude. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-restriction-derived-complete} Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a site. Let $\mathcal{O} \to \mathcal{O}'$ be a homomorphism of sheaves of rings. Let $\mathcal{I} \subset \mathcal{O}$ be a sheaf of ideals. The inverse image of $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}, \mathcal{I})$ under the restriction functor $D(\mathcal{O}') \to D(\mathcal{O})$ is $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}', \mathcal{I}\mathcal{O}')$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Using Lemma \ref{lemma-ideal-of-elements-complete-wrt} we see that $K' \in D(\mathcal{O}')$ is in $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}', \mathcal{I}\mathcal{O}')$ if and only if $T(K'|_U, f)$ is zero for every local section $f \in \mathcal{I}(U)$. Observe that the cohomology sheaves of $T(K'|_U, f)$ are computed in the category of abelian sheaves, so it doesn't matter whether we think of $f$ as a section of $\mathcal{O}$ or take the image of $f$ as a section of $\mathcal{O}'$. The lemma follows immediately from this and the definition of derived complete objects. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-pushforward-derived-complete} Let $f : (\Sh(\mathcal{D}), \mathcal{O}') \to (\Sh(\mathcal{C}), \mathcal{O})$ be a morphism of ringed topoi. Let $\mathcal{I} \subset \mathcal{O}$ and $\mathcal{I}' \subset \mathcal{O}'$ be sheaves of ideals such that $f^\sharp$ sends $f^{-1}\mathcal{I}$ into $\mathcal{I}'$. Then $Rf_*$ sends $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}', \mathcal{I}')$ into $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}, \mathcal{I})$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} We may assume $f$ is given by a morphism of ringed sites corresponding to a continuous functor $\mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{D}$ (Modules on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-modules-lemma-morphism-ringed-topoi-comes-from-morphism-ringed-sites} ). Let $U$ be an object of $\mathcal{C}$ and let $g$ be a section of $\mathcal{I}$ over $U$. We have to show that $\Hom_{D(\mathcal{O}_U)}(\mathcal{O}_{U, g}, Rf_*K|_U) = 0$ whenever $K$ is derived complete with respect to $\mathcal{I}'$. Namely, by Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-section-RHom-over-U} this, applied to all objects over $U$ and all shifts of $K$, will imply that $R\SheafHom_{\mathcal{O}_U}(\mathcal{O}_{U, g}, Rf_*K|_U)$ is zero, which implies that $T(Rf_*K|_U, g)$ is zero (Lemma \ref{lemma-hom-from-Af}) which is what we have to show (Definition \ref{definition-derived-complete}). Let $V$ in $\mathcal{D}$ be the image of $U$. Then $$\Hom_{D(\mathcal{O}_U)}(\mathcal{O}_{U, g}, Rf_*K|_U) = \Hom_{D(\mathcal{O}'_V)}(\mathcal{O}'_{V, g'}, K|_V) = 0$$ where $g' = f^\sharp(g) \in \mathcal{I}'(V)$. The second equality because $K$ is derived complete and the first equality because the derived pullback of $\mathcal{O}_{U, g}$ is $\mathcal{O}'_{V, g'}$ and Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-adjoint}. \end{proof} \noindent The following lemma is the simplest case where one has derived completion. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-derived-completion} Let $(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{O})$ be a ringed on a site. Let $f_1, \ldots, f_r$ be global sections of $\mathcal{O}$. Let $\mathcal{I} \subset \mathcal{O}$ be the ideal sheaf generated by $f_1, \ldots, f_r$. Then the inclusion functor $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O}) \to D(\mathcal{O})$ has a left adjoint, i.e., given any object $K$ of $D(\mathcal{O})$ there exists a map $K \to K^\wedge$ with $K^\wedge$ in $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O})$ such that the map $$\Hom_{D(\mathcal{O})}(K^\wedge, E) \longrightarrow \Hom_{D(\mathcal{O})}(K, E)$$ is bijective whenever $E$ is in $D_{comp}(\mathcal{O})$. In fact we have $$K^\wedge = R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O} (\mathcal{O} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0} \mathcal{O}_{f_{i_0}} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0 < i_1} \mathcal{O}_{f_{i_0}f_{i_1}} \to \ldots \to \mathcal{O}_{f_1\ldots f_r}, K)$$ functorially in $K$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Define $K^\wedge$ by the last displayed formula of the lemma. There is a map of complexes $$(\mathcal{O} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0} \mathcal{O}_{f_{i_0}} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0 < i_1} \mathcal{O}_{f_{i_0}f_{i_1}} \to \ldots \to \mathcal{O}_{f_1\ldots f_r}) \longrightarrow \mathcal{O}$$ which induces a map $K \to K^\wedge$. It suffices to prove that $K^\wedge$ is derived complete and that $K \to K^\wedge$ is an isomorphism if $K$ is derived complete. \medskip\noindent Let $f$ be a global section of $\mathcal{O}$. By Lemma \ref{lemma-map-twice-localize} the object $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K^\wedge)$ is equal to $$R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}( (\mathcal{O}_f \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0} \mathcal{O}_{ff_{i_0}} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0 < i_1} \mathcal{O}_{ff_{i_0}f_{i_1}} \to \ldots \to \mathcal{O}_{ff_1\ldots f_r}), K)$$ If $f = f_i$ for some $i$, then $f_1, \ldots, f_r$ generate the unit ideal in $\mathcal{O}_f$, hence the extended alternating {\v C}ech complex $$\mathcal{O}_f \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0} \mathcal{O}_{ff_{i_0}} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0 < i_1} \mathcal{O}_{ff_{i_0}f_{i_1}} \to \ldots \to \mathcal{O}_{ff_1\ldots f_r}$$ is zero (even homotopic to zero). In this way we see that $K^\wedge$ is derived complete. \medskip\noindent If $K$ is derived complete, then $R\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(\mathcal{O}_f, K)$ is zero for all $f = f_{i_0} \ldots f_{i_p}$, $p \geq 0$. Thus $K \to K^\wedge$ is an isomorphism in $D(\mathcal{O})$. \end{proof} \noindent Next we explain why derived completion is a completion. \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-derived-completion-koszul} Let $(\mathcal{C}, \mathcal{O})$ be a ringed on a site. Let $f_1, \ldots, f_r$ be global sections of $\mathcal{O}$. Let $\mathcal{I} \subset \mathcal{O}$ be the ideal sheaf generated by $f_1, \ldots, f_r$. Let $K \in D(\mathcal{O})$. The derived completion $K^\wedge$ of Lemma \ref{lemma-derived-completion} is given by the formula $$K^\wedge = R\lim K \otimes^\mathbf{L}_\mathcal{O} K_n$$ where $K_n = K(\mathcal{O}, f_1^n, \ldots, f_r^n)$ is the Koszul complex on $f_1^n, \ldots, f_r^n$ over $\mathcal{O}$. \end{lemma} \begin{proof} In More on Algebra, Lemma \ref{more-algebra-lemma-extended-alternating-Cech-is-colimit-koszul} we have seen that the extended alternating {\v C}ech complex $$\mathcal{O} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0} \mathcal{O}_{f_{i_0}} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0 < i_1} \mathcal{O}_{f_{i_0}f_{i_1}} \to \ldots \to \mathcal{O}_{f_1\ldots f_r}$$ is a colimit of the Koszul complexes $K^n = K(\mathcal{O}, f_1^n, \ldots, f_r^n)$ sitting in degrees $0, \ldots, r$. Note that $K^n$ is a finite chain complex of finite free $\mathcal{O}$-modules with dual $\SheafHom_\mathcal{O}(K^n, \mathcal{O}) = K_n$ where $K_n$ is the Koszul cochain complex sitting in degrees $-r, \ldots, 0$ (as usual). By Lemma \ref{lemma-derived-completion} the functor $K \mapsto K^\wedge$ is gotten by taking $R\SheafHom$ from the extended alternating {\v C}ech complex into $K$: $$K^\wedge = R\SheafHom(\colim K^n, K)$$ This is equal to $R\lim (K \otimes_\mathcal{O}^\mathbf{L} K_n)$ by Cohomology on Sites, Lemma \ref{sites-cohomology-lemma-colim-and-lim-of-duals}. \end{proof} \begin{lemma} \label{lemma-all-rings} There exist a way to construct \begin{enumerate} \item for every pair $(A, I)$ consisting of a ring $A$ and a finitely generated ideal $I \subset A$ a complex $K(A, I)$ of $A$-modules, \item a map $K(A, I) \to A$ of complexes of $A$-modules, \item for every ring map $A \to B$ and finitely generated ideal $I \subset A$ a map of complexes $K(A, I) \to K(B, IB)$, \end{enumerate} such that \begin{enumerate} \item[(a)] for $A \to B$ and $I \subset A$ finitely generated the diagram $$\xymatrix{ K(A, I) \ar[r] \ar[d] & A \ar[d] \\ K(B, IB) \ar[r] & B }$$ commutes, \item[(b)] for $A \to B \to C$ and $I \subset A$ finitely generated the composition of the maps $K(A, I) \to K(B, IB) \to K(C, IC)$ is the map $K(A, I) \to K(C, IC)$. \item[(c)] for $A \to B$ and a finitely generated ideal $I \subset A$ the induced map $K(A, I) \otimes_A^\mathbf{L} B \to K(B, IB)$ is an isomorphism in $D(B)$, and \item[(d)] if $I = (f_1, \ldots, f_r) \subset A$ then there is a commutative diagram $$\xymatrix{ (A \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0} A_{f_{i_0}} \to \prod\nolimits_{i_0 < i_1} A_{f_{i_0}f_{i_1}} \to \ldots \to A_{f_1\ldots f_r}) \ar[r] \ar[d] & K(A, I) \ar[d] \\ A \ar[r]^1 & A }$$ in $D(A)$ whose horizontal arrows are isomorphisms. \end{enumerate} \end{lemma} \begin{proof} Let $S$ be the set of rings $A_0$ of the form $A_0 = \mathbf{Z}[x_1, \ldots, x_n]/J$. Every finite type $\mathbf{Z}$-algebra is isomorphic to an element of $S$. Let $\mathcal{A}_0$ be the category whose objects are pairs $(A_0, I_0)$ where $A_0 \in S$ and $I_0 \subset A_0$ is an ideal and whose morphisms $(A_0, I_0) \to (B_0, J_0)$ are ring maps $\varphi : A_0 \to B_0$ such that $J_0 = \varphi(I_0)B_0$. \medskip\noindent Suppose we can construct $K(A_0, I_0) \to A_0$ functorially for objects of $\mathcal{A}_0$ having properties (a), (b), (c), and (d). Then we take $$K(A, I) = \colim_{\varphi : (A_0, I_0) \to (A, I)} K(A_0, I_0)$$ where the colimit is over ring maps $\varphi : A_0 \to A$ such that $\varphi(I_0)A = I$ with $(A_0, I_0)$ in $\mathcal{A}_0$. A morphism between $(A_0, I_0) \to (A, I)$ and $(A_0', I_0') \to (A, I)$ are given by maps $(A_0, I_0) \to (A_0', I_0')$ in $\mathcal{A}_0$ commuting with maps to $A$. The category of these $(A_0, I_0) \to (A, I)$ is filtered (details omitted). Moreover, $\colim_{\varphi : (A_0, I_0) \to (A, I)} A_0 = A$ so that $K(A, I)$ is a complex of $A$-modules. Finally, given $\varphi : A \to B$ and $I \subset A$ for every $(A_0, I_0) \to (A, I)$ in the colimit, the composition $(A_0, I_0) \to (B, IB)$ lives in the colimit for $(B, IB)$. In this way we get a map on colimits. Properties (a), (b), (c), and (d) follow readily from this and the corresponding properties of the complexes $K(A_0, I_0)$. \medskip\noindent Endow $\mathcal{C}_0 = \mathcal{A}_0^{opp}$ with the chaotic topology. We equip $\mathcal{C}_0$ with the sheaf of rings $\mathcal{O} : (A, I) \mapsto A$. The ideals $I$ fit together to give a sheaf of ideals $\mathcal{I} \subset \mathcal{O}$. Choose an injective resolution $\mathcal{O} \to \mathcal{J}^\bullet$. Consider the object $$\mathcal{F}^\bullet = \bigcup\nolimits_n \mathcal{J}^\bullet[\mathcal{I}^n]$$ Let $U = (A, I) \in \Ob(\mathcal{C}_0)$. Since the topology in $\mathcal{C}_0$ is chaotic, the value $\mathcal{J}^\bullet(U)$ is a resolution of $A$ by injective $A$-modules. Hence the value $\mathcal{F}^\bullet(U)$ is an object of $D(A)$