Descent along all covers.

We will construct the category of Algebraic spaces following the program outlined by James Borger, that is, relying only on commutative algebra, category theory, and the powerful theory of Descent. At the moment, we intend to follow classical descent theory as outlined in Vistoli’s notes, but it is possible that we may change lanes, so to speak, and pursue the theory of homotopical descent of Toen and Vessozi, to generalize our results.

We assume familiarity with category theory throughout

Results involving commutative algebra may be stated without proof, but the final goal is to have all relevant theorems proven.

The plan (more will eventually be added):

1.) Review of the Yoneda Lemma and a proof of the 2-Yoneda lemma for pseudofunctors
2.) Grothendieck Topologies
3.) Descent for sheaves and stacks – All definitions given using the 2-Yoneda descent condition
4.) Overview of Commutative Algebra Results necessary
– Zariski’s Main Theorem
– Definitions: Finitely presented, formally unramified, formally smooth, formally etale
– Lemmata: The above are stable under base change and composition.
5.) The Etale topology on
6.) The topos of sheaves
7.) Definitions of important algebro-geometric morphisms between sheaves where possible.
8.) The category of Algebraic Spaces
9.) The etale, nisnevich, fppf, and fpqc topologies on .
10.) The category of Stacks on in the fppf and fpqc topologies.
11.) Algebraic Stacks

The theory of schemes will be discussed in examples, but it is not the focus of our exposition. Upon the completion of the above agenda in sufficient rigour and generality, the theory of schemes may be investigated more thoroughly.