# Stein factorization

In algebraic geometry, the Stein factorization, introduced by Template:Harvs for the case of complex spaces, states that a proper morphism can be factorized as a composition of a finite mapping and a proper morphism with connected fibers. Roughly speaking, Stein factorization contracts the connected components of the fibers of a mapping to points.

One version for schemes states the following:Template:Harv

Let X be a scheme, S a locally noetherian scheme and ${\displaystyle f:X\to S}$ a proper morphism. Then one can write

${\displaystyle f=g\circ f'}$

The existence of this decomposition itself is not difficult. (see below) But, by Zariski's connectedness theorem, the last part in the above says that the fiber ${\displaystyle f'^{-1}(s)}$ is connected for any ${\displaystyle s\in S}$. It follows:

Corollary: For any ${\displaystyle s\in S}$, the set of connected components of the fiber ${\displaystyle f^{-1}(s)}$ is in bijection with the set of points in the fiber ${\displaystyle g^{-1}(s)}$.

## Proof

Set:

${\displaystyle S'=}$ Spec${\displaystyle f_{*}{\mathcal {O}}_{X}}$

where Spec is the relative Spec. The construction gives us the natural map ${\displaystyle g:S'\to S}$, which is finite since ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {O}}_{X}}$ is coherent and f is proper. f factors through g and so we get ${\displaystyle f':X\to S'.}$, which is proper. By construction ${\displaystyle f'_{*}{\mathcal {O}}_{X}={\mathcal {O}}_{S'}}$. One then uses the theorem on formal functions to show that the last equality implies ${\displaystyle f'}$ has connected fibers. (This part is sometimes referred to as Zariski's connectedness theorem.)