International Journal of Mathematical Archive-4(5), 2013, 235-239

Available online through www.ijma.info ISSN 2229 5046

HOMEOMORPHISMS OF THE PRIME SPECTRA
A.V. S. N. Murty1*, A. V. H. Sastry2 and A. V. G. S. Sastry3
1

Professor in Mathematics, Srinivasa Institute of Engineering & Technology,

Cheyyeru (V), NH-216, Amalapuram-533222, (A.P.), India

Head Master, Z. P. High School, S. Rayavaram, Visakhapatnam District, (A.P.), India

Assistant Professor in Mathematics, Srinivasa Institute of Engineering & Technology,

Cheyyeru (V), NH-216, Amalapuram-533222, (A.P.), India
(Received on: 12-04-13; Revised & Accepted on: 01-05-13)

ABSTRACT

In this paper it is proved that closed subspaces of Spec R are homeomorphic to the spectra of the quotient rings of R. If
R is a finite direct product of rings R1 , R 2 ,, Rn then it is proved that Spec R is the disjoint union of open sets that
are homeomorphic to Spec

Ri .

Keywords: Prime ideals, Prime Spec R, Quotient Rings and Homeomorphism.

AMS Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000): 06E15, 16D25.

1. INTRODUCTION
The notion of points in geometry and the study of prime ideals occupy the central part in the study of Commutative
Algebra ([1] and [2]). Let R be a commutative ring with identity and X be the set of all prime ideals of R. For any
A R, let X (A)={PX | AP}. If A = {a}, then we write simply X(a) for X({a}). It is clear that the class {X (A) | A
R} forms a topology on X, for which {X (a) | a R} is a base. The set of prime ideals of a commutative ring R with
identity together with this topology is called the Prime Spectrum of R and is denoted by Spec R ([3], [5], [6], [8] and
[9]). Also studied some properties of homeomorphisms of the Prime Spectra ([3], [6] and [8]).
Note: Throughout this paper, only commutative rings with identity are considered and hence it was preferred to call
these as rings for simplicity.
2. PRELIMINARIES
Definition 2.1: Let R be a ring and X be the set of all prime ideals of R. For any A R, let X (A) = {PX | A P}. If
A = {a}, then we write simply X(a) for X({a}).
It is clear that the class {X (A) | A R} forms a topology on X, for which {X (a) | a R} is a base.

Definition 2.2: The set X of all prime ideals of a ring R together with the topology {X (A) | A R} is called the Prime
Spectrum of R and is denoted by Prime Spec R or simply, Spec R.

Definition 2.3: For any ring R, A R and Y Spec R,

(i) Hull of A is defined as H(A) = {P Spec R | A P}= Spec R X(A)

(ii) Kernel of Y is defined as

K (Y ) = P
PY

If

{a R | f (a ) P} is also
f : R S is any homomorphism of rings, then, for any prime ideal P of S, f 1 ( P) =
1

a prime ideal of R. In fact, this correspondence P f ( P ) becomes a continuous map of Spec S into Spec R. The
following can be easily proved.
Corresponding author: A.V. S. N. Murty1*
1
Professor in Mathematics, Srinivasa Institute of Engineering & Technology,
Cheyyeru (V), NH-216, Amalapuram-533222, (A.P.), India
International Journal of Mathematical Archive- 4(5), May 2013

235

1*

A.V. S. N. Murty , A. V. H. Sastry and A. V. G. S. Sastry /HOMEOMORPHISMS OF THE PRIME SPECTRA/IJMA- 4(5), May-2013.

Theorem 2.4: Let

f : R S be a homomorphism of rings. Define f * : Spec S Spec R by f * ( P ) = f 1 ( P )

for all P Spec S. Then

f * is a continuous map.

Theorem 2.5: Let I be a proper ideal of a ring R. Then Spec (R/I) is homeomorphic to H (I).
Definition 2.6: Let

f : R S be a homomorphism of rings. For any ideal I of R, the ideal generated by f ( I ) in S is

f and is denoted by I e . Also, for any ideal J of S, the inverse image f 1 (J)

called the extension of I with respect to

is an ideal of R and is called the contraction of J with respect to

f and is denoted by J c

3. HOMEOMORPHISMS
Definition 3.1: Let X and Y be topological spaces. Let
then

f : X Y be a bijection. If both f and f 1 are continuous

f is called a homeomorphism.

Theorem 3.2: Let f : R S be a homomorphism of rings and

continuous map. Then,

f * : Spec S Spec R be the corresponding

(1) f *1 ( H ( I )) = H ( I e ), for any ideal I of R

(2) f * ( H ( J )) = H ( J c ), for any ideal J of S

Proof: (1) Let I be an ideal of R. For any

P f

*1

P Spec S ,

( H ( I )) f ( P) H ( I )
f 1 ( P) H ( I )
I f 1 ( P )
< f ( I ) > P
Ie P
P H (I e )

Therefore

f *1 ( H ( I )) = H ( I e )

(2) Let J be an ideal of S. First we observe that

a r ( f

Now,

r ( f 1 ( J )) = f 1 (r ( J )) ;

( J )) a n f 1 ( J ) , for some n>0

f (a n ) J f (a ) r ( J ) a f 1 (r ( J ))

P f * ( H ( J )) P H ( K ( f * ( H ( J ))))
K ( f * ( H ( J )) P

QP

Q f * ( H ( J ))

f * ( A) P

AH ( J )

f 1 ( A) P

J ASpec S

f 1 (

A) P

J ASpec S

f 1 (r ( J )) P
r ( f 1 ( J )))
f 1 ( J ) P (sin ce f 1 (r ( J )) =
P H ( f 1 ( J ))
2013, IJMA. All Rights Reserved

236

1*

A.V. S. N. Murty , A. V. H. Sastry and A. V. G. S. Sastry /HOMEOMORPHISMS OF THE PRIME SPECTRA/IJMA- 4(5), May-2013.

Therefore

f * ( H ( J )) = H ( J C ) .

Theorem 3.3: Let f : R S be a homomorphism of rings and

continuous map. Then

f * : Spec S Spec R be the corresponding

(1) If f is an epimorphism, then f is a homeomorphism of Spec S onto the closed subset H (Ker f). Moreover, Spec
R and Spec(R/N(R)) are homeomorphic.

f * ( Spec S ) is dense in Spec R if and only if Ker f N ( R) ; in particular, if f is a monomorphism, then

f * ( Spec S ) is dense in Spec R.

(2)

Proof: (1) Suppose

f : R S is an epimorphism. Then by the fundamental theorem of homomorphism,

( R / Ker f ) S and hence, by the theorem 2.5,

Spec S Spec ( R / Ker

f ) H(Ker f).

Also Spec (R/N(R)) H(N(R))=Spec R.

Thus Spec R and Spec (R/N(R)) are homeomorphic.
(2) We have
Now,

f * ( Spec S ) is dense in Spec R if and only if K ( f * ( Spec S )) = N(R)

K ( f * ( Spec S )) =

f * (Q)

f 1 (Q)

QSpec S

QSpec S

f 1 (

Q)

QSpec S

f 1 (r{0})
1
= r ( f (0))
= r ( Ker f )

Also, Ker f N(R) if and only if r(Ker f) = N(R).

Therefore,

f * ( Spec S ) is dense in Spec R if and only if Ker f N(R).

If f is a monomorphism, then Ker f = {0} N(R) and hence

f * ( Spec S ) is dense in Spec R.

Theorem 3.4: Let R1 and R2 be rings and R= R1 R2. Then Spec R is the disjoint union of open sets X1 and X2 such that
Xi is homeomorphic with Spec Ri .
Proof: Put I1= R1{0} and I2= {0}R2. Then I1 and I2 are ideals of R= R1R2.
Let X = Spec R. Put X1 = X (I1) and X2 = X (I2).

X 1 X 2 = X ( I1 ) X ( I 2 )= X ( I1 + I 2 )= X ( R)= X
and X=
X ( I1 ) =
X ( I 2 ) X ( I=
X=
({0}) .
1 X2
1 I2 )
Then

Therefore

X 1 and X 2 are open sets in Spec R which is the disjoint union of X 1 and X 2 .

X i is homeomorphic to Spec Ri . For this, consider the projection map f1 : R1 R2 R1

defined by f1 ( a1 , a2 ) = a1 . Then f1 is an epimorphism.
Now, we shall prove that

By the theorem 3.3,

Spec R1 H ( Ker f1 ) =
H (I2 ) =
X ( I1 ) =
X1 .

2013, IJMA. All Rights Reserved

237

1*

A.V. S. N. Murty , A. V. H. Sastry and A. V. G. S. Sastry /HOMEOMORPHISMS OF THE PRIME SPECTRA/IJMA- 4(5), May-2013.

Thus

X 1 is homeomorphic with Spec R1 . Similarly, X 2 is homeomorphic with Spec R2 .

The following is the immediate consequence of the above.

Corollary 3.5: Let R1 , R2 ,..., Rn be rings and R =

R
i =1

open sets

be the direct product. Then Spec R is the disjoint union of

X i such that X i is homeomorphic with Spec Ri .

Corollary 3.6: If K1 , K 2 ,..., K n are fields, then Spec ( K1 K 2 K n ) is the n-element discrete space.

f * : Spec S Spec R is a continuous map if f : R S is a homomorphism of rings. This

f * may not be an open map. In the following it come across a situation where f * is a continuous bijection which is

It is proved that

not a homeomorphism
Theorem 3.7: Let R be an integral domain with exactly one non-zero prime ideal P and let K be the field of fractions
of R. Let S = (R/P) K. Define
homeomorphism.

f : R S by f(a)=(a+P, a/1) for all a R. Then f * is a bijection but not a

Proof: Let X = Spec R. Since R is an integral domain, {0} is a prime ideal of R. Therefore, {0} and P are the only
prime ideals of R and hence X = {{0}, P}.
By hypothesis, we get that P is a maximal ideal of R and hence R/P is a field. Therefore, {0} K and (R/P) {0} are
the only prime ideals of (R/P) K. Let Y = Spec S. Then Y = {P1, P2}, where P1= {0} K and P2=(R/P) {0}.
Define

f * : Spec S Spec R by f * ( P ) = f 1 ( P ) , for all P Spec S .

We shall prove that

To prove that

f * is a bijection but not homeomorphism.

f * is a bijection.

Now,

f * ( P1 ) =
f 1 ( P1 ) =
{a R | f (a ) P1}

= a R | a + P, {0} K
1

={a R | a + P =0 + P}
=
{a R | a P} = P
and

f * ( P2 ) =
f 1 ( P2 ) =
{a R | f (a ) P2 }

=
a R | a + P, ( R / P) {0}
1

a 0

=
a R | = = {0}
1 1

Thus

f * is a bijection.

To prove that

f * is not homeomorphism.

Let Y (0, 1), Y (1, 0) be basic open sets in Spec S respectively.

Then, clearly Y(0,1) = { P2 } and Y(1,0) = { P1 }.
2013, IJMA. All Rights Reserved

238

1*

A.V. S. N. Murty , A. V. H. Sastry and A. V. G. S. Sastry /HOMEOMORPHISMS OF THE PRIME SPECTRA/IJMA- 4(5), May-2013.

Now,

f * ({P2 }) = {{0}}= X(a) if 0 a P and f * ({P1}) = {P} X(a) for all a R .

If a P , then X(a) = {P, {0}}. If 0 a P , then X(a) = {{0}}. If a = 0, then X(0) =

Therefore,

f * ({P1}) is not open in Spec R, though {P1} is open in Spec S and hence f * is not continuous. Thus

f * is not homeomorphism.
REFERENCES
[1] Hochster, M., Prime ideal structure in commutative rings, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 142 (1969), 43-60.
[2] Hochster, M., Existence of topologies for commutative rings with identity, Duke Math. J. 38 (1971), 551-554.
[3] Lu, C. P., The Zariski topology the Prime Spectrum of a Module, Houston J. Math, 25 (3), 1999, 417-425.
[4] Atiyah, M. F., and Macdonald., I. G., Introduction to Commutative Algebra, Univ. of Oxford, Addison-Wesley
Publishing Co., 1969.
[5] Jacobson, N., Basic Algebra, Voi.II, Hindustan Publishing Corporation, India, 1984.
[6] James, R. Munkers., Topology a First course, Prentice-Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., 1975.
[7] Joachim, L., Lectures on Rings and Modules, McGill University, Blaisdell Publishing Company, A Division of
Ginn and Company, 1966.
[8] Swamy, U. M., Commutative Algebra, Course Book for M.Sc., programme in Mathematics, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Open University, Hyderabad, India.
[9] Murty, A.V.S.N., Sastry, A.V.G.S., Prime and Maximal Spectra, International Journal of Mathematical Archive4(3), 2013, 1-5.
Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared

2013, IJMA. All Rights Reserved

239