Dimension of a scheme


In algebraic geometry, the dimension of a scheme is a generalization of a dimension of an algebraic variety. Scheme theory emphasizes the relative point of view and, accordingly, the relative dimension of a morphism of schemes is also important.

Definition

By definition, the dimension of a scheme X is the dimension of the underlying topological space: the supremum of the lengths of chains of irreducible closed subsets:
In particular, if is an affine scheme, then such chains correspond to chains of prime ideals and so the dimension of X is precisely the Krull dimension of A.
If Y is an irreducible closed subset of a scheme X, then the codimension of Y in X is the supremum of the lengths of chains of irreducible closed subsets:
An irreducible subset of X is an irreducible component of X if and only if the codimension of it in X is zero. If is affine, then the codimension of Y in X is precisely the height of the prime ideal defining Y in X.

Examples

An equidimensional scheme is a scheme all of whose irreducible components are of the same dimension.

Examples

All irreducible schemes are equidimensional.
In affine space, the union of a line and a point not on the line is not equidimensional. In general, if two closed subschemes of some scheme, neither containing the other, have unequal dimensions, then their union is not equidimensional.
If a scheme is smooth over Spec k for some field k, then every connected component, is equidimensional.