THE DE RHAM COMPARISON

NOTES BY JOSEPH STAHL

1. Koszul Complexes
Definition 1. Koszul Complexes

2. de Rham comparison isomorphism

Let C be a characteristic 0 perfectoid field containing a compatible system of primitive p-power roots of
unity, with ring of integers O and residue field k. For X/O a smooth proper formal scheme (locally of the
form Spf R, R a p-adically complete flat O-algebra such that (R/p)/(O/p) is smooth; equivalently, R is the
p-adic completion of a smooth O-algebra) with generic fiber X, we want to define a cohomology theory that
interpolates between the different cohomology theories for X/O (de Rham, etale, crystalline). This will come
in the form of Ainf -cohomology.
i
Recall: in the situation described above, we will define the de Rham cohomology HdR (X/O) as H i (R(XZar , ,cts
X/O )),
where ,cts
X/O := lim . Recall also that we have a morphism of sites : Xproet Xet (we will
(X/pn )/(O/pn )
+ +
abusively also denote Xproet XZar by as well), and certain interesting sheaves on Xproet : OX := OXet
,
+ + n +
O
b = lim O /p , Ainf,X := W (O b [ ). Ravi defined AX := L R Ainf,X , where Ainf is = [] 1,
X X X

for  = (1, p , p2 , . . . ) O[ .
The main corollary of the results today will be the specialization of Ainf -cohomology to de Rham coho-
mology.
Theorem 1. RAinf (X) := R(X, AX ) is a perfect complex of AX -modules such that
RA (X) L OK
inf = RdR (X) := R(XZar ,
Ainf
,cts
). X/O

In order to prove this theorem, we need to make the following definition.

b+ D0 (O )
e X := L 1 R O
Definition 2. p X X

The complex R O b+ can be almost understood (via Faltings almost purity theorem), but since almost
X
quasi-isomorphisms become quasi-isomorphisms after applying L, we are able to make integral calculations
on the nose (instead of just almost). In particular, we will show the following result, which has the above
specialization theorem as a corollary:
Theorem 2. There is a natural isomorphism
e X)
H i ( i,cts i,cts
= X/O {i} := X/O O O{1}(i)
of sheaves on XZar .
The proof of this theorem will be a relatively involved local calculation using crucially the idea that
L turns almost quasi-isomorphisms into quasi-isomorphisms. Thus, the almost results obtained from the
almost purity theorem will yield on the nose integral results.

3. Local Calculation
Working locally will allow us to reduce the above to the study of the following special form of algebra.
Definition 3. Let R be a formally smooth O-algebra. Then R is called small if there is an etale map
 : Spf R Gb d := Spf OhT 1 , . . . , T 1 i = Spf OhT 1 i.
m 1 d
Such a map  is called a framing.
1
 THE DE RHAM COMPARISON 2

 h i 
Now, let X = Spf R, and let X = Spa R p1 , R be its generic fiber. A framing  of X allows
i
us to construct an affinoid perfectoid U Xproet as follows: set Ri := R OhT 1 i OhT 1/p i, R :=

R b OhT 1 i OhT 1/p i = lim
\ R . One can verify that R is a perfectoid ring integrally closed in the perfec-
i
h i i
1/pm 1/pm 1/pm 1/pm
toid C-algebra R p1 . R inherits an action of = Zp (1)d via i Ti = pm Ti , i Tj = Tj .
If Spf R is connected, and R denotes the completion of the normalization ofhR iin the
b
h maximal
i profinite etale
extension of R[1/p] (which is perfectoid), there is an action of = Gal R p1 /R p1 b R R
on R.
b and
there is a surjection . Almost purity implies that

Rcts (, R ) Rcts (, R)
b

is an almost quasi-isomorphism. Now, results from Scholzes p-adic Hodge theory for rigid analytic varieties
b R(X b+
implies that Rcts (, R) = et , OX ).
prof

Definition 4.

e
R := Lp 1 Rcts (, R )
e profet := L 1 R(Xprofet , O
b+ )
R p X
e proet := L 1 R(Xproet , O
b+ ).
R p X

By the above, we have maps

 
b R(X
Rcts (, R ) Rcts , R b+ b+
= et , OX ) R(Xpro
prof et , OX ),

hence maps
e
e profet
R R
e proet .
R

L preserves almost quasi-isomorphisms, so these maps are also almost quasi-isomorphisms. There is also a
map e proet R(X,
e X ). The following theorem is the local version of the result we want to prove.
R

Theorem 3. Let R be a small formally smooth OK -algebra. The maps

profet
e
proet R(X,
X)
R R R

R for their common value in D(OX )? D(R)? Then there are natural
are quasi-isomorphisms; write
isomorphisms
R)
H i ( i,cts
= R/O {i}.

0th step: Show L turns almost q.i.s to q.i.s.

1st step: compute Rcts (, R ).
2nd step: Deduce
profet

proet R(X,
X)
R R R

are quasi-isomorphisms (and more).  

b R/Z [1]{1}
3rd step: Show that L = 1 e
R , so that H 1 b
LR/Zp [1]{1}
= R/O
1,cts
= H 1 (
e R ).
p

Theorem 4. There is a canonical quasi-isomorphism of complexes of sheaves on XZar (compatibly with

multiplication)
AX LAinf OK ,cts
= X/OK .
 THE DE RHAM COMPARISON 3

Proof. Given all that weve covered, the proof of this is rather straightforward.

AX LAinf , OK = (L R Ainf,X ) LAinf , OK

L() R Ainf,X LA , OK

  inf
= L (L R Ainf,X ) LA , OK
inf
 
L
= LAX A , OK
inf

= H (AX /)
,cts .
= X/OK

Proof. The comparison follows from taking R on both sides of the isomorphism

AX LAinf O ,cts
= X/O .

AR is derived -complete for a small affine open Spf R X by lemma 6.19; thus, AX is derived -
complete, and so is RAinf (X). To prove RAinf (X) is perfect, ETS RAinf (X) LAinf , OK is perfect, which
follows from (ii).
Proposition 
 THE DE RHAM COMPARISON 4

We begin with a lemma.

Lemma 1. Let A be a ring with an ideal I A, f I a non-zero-divisor.
(i) Let M be an A-module such that both M and M/f have no elements killed by I. Let : M N be
a map of A-modules such that the kernel and cokernel are both killed by I. Then the induced map
: M/M [f ] N/N [f ] is an isomorphism.
(ii) Let g : C D be a map in D(A) such that for all i Z, the kernel and cokernel of H i (C) H i (D)
are killed by I. Moreover assume that for all i Z, H i (C) and H i (C)/f have no elements killed by
I. Then Lf g : Lf C Lf D is a quasi-isomorphism.
Proof. (i) The kernel of is killed by I but M has no elements killed by I, so is injective. M/M [f ]
=
f M via multiplication by f , so that : f M f N is injective. OTOH, If N f M f N M
as N -submodules. Thus, f N/f M , M/f M consists of elements killed by I, and so vanishes by
assumption. Thus is an isomorphism.
(ii) Follows from part (i) and lemma 6.4.

From this lemma, we deduce the following corollary, which in particular shows that the first two maps in
theorem 3 are quasi-isomorphisms as claimed.
Corollary 1 (BMS 8.13). Let R be a small formally smooth OK -algebra with framing .
(i) The maps

profet
proet
R R R
are quasi-isomorphisms
(ii) For all i 0, there is an isomorphism (depending on )
R ),
Rd
H 1 (
whose exterior powers induce isomorphisms
R ).
i Rd
H i (
(iii) For any formally etale map R R0 of small formally smooth OK -algebras, the natural map
R L R0 R0
R

is a quasi-isomorphism.
(iv) The map
R R(X,
X)
is a quasi-isomorphism.
Proof. b+ ) or R(Xproet , O
(i) C = Rcts (, R ), D is either R(Xprofet , O b+ ). We have a map g : C
X X
D which is an almost quasi-isomorphism why?, and C satisfies the typothesis of the previous lemma
with A = OK , I = m, f = p 1 by proposition 8.9. Part (ii) of the lemma implies that Lp 1 g is
a quasi-isomorphism.
(ii) Follows from 8.9 and the formula
H i (Lp 1 C) = H i (C)/H i (C)[p 1].
(iii) The formula in part (ii) is compatible with cup products, so the identification of cohomology groups
just described implies part (iii).
(iv) There is an induced map
R R OX
X.
It is enough to show that this is a quasi-isomorphism in D(XZar ), since the left side defines a coherent
complex whose R is R . For any affine open U = Spf R0 Spf R with generic fiber U , part (iii)
implies that the left side evaluated on U is given by
b+ ).
L 1 R(Uproet , O
p X
To check if
R R OX
X
 THE DE RHAM COMPARISON 5

is a quasi-isomorphism, check on stalks at points. Let x X be a point. On the LHS we have

b+ ).
lim Lp 1 R(Uproet , O
X
U3x
On the RHS we have
b+ )
Lp 1 lim R(Uproet , O
X
U3x
because L commutes with taking stalks by lemma 6.14. L commutes with filtered colimits, which
implies the result.


4. Identification
The main result of this section is the following:
b+ ) factors uniquely over a map
b R/Z [1]{1} R(Xproet , O
Proposition 1. The map L p X
b R/Z [1]{1} L 1 R(Xproet , O
L R,
b+ ) =
p p X
and this factorization induces an equivalence
R.
L p
1
b R/Z [1]{1}

From here, the transitivity triangle

L b R/Z [1] L
b O /Z [1] O R L b R/O [1]
K p K p K

b R/Z [1]{1} are given by R in degree 0 and 1,cts {1} in degree

implies that the cohomology groups of L p R/OK
1. Thus the proposition gives a canonical identification
1,cts {1}
R/OK
R ),
= H 1 (
and combining with cor 8.13 finishes the proof that
i,cts i
R/OK {i} = H (R )
finishing the proof of 8.7 and 8.3.
Proof. Uniqueness of the factorization is proven in the following lemma:
Lemma 2. Let A be a ring with a non-zero-divisor f , and let : C D be a map in D(A) such that
H i (C) = 0 for i > 1, H i (D) = 0 for i < 0, and H 0 (D) is f -torsion-free. Then there is at most one
factorization of as the composite of a map : C Lf D and the natural map Lf D D from lemma
6.10, and it exists if and only if the map
H 1 (C LA A/f ) H 1 (D LA A/f )
is zero, which in turn happens if and only if the map H 1 (C) H 1 (D) factors through f H 1 (D).
Proof.