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In a finite-type algebra over a field, closed points are dense in every closed subset of the spectrum
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Choice.
Let be a field, let be a finite-type -algebra, and let be closed. Then every nonempty open subset of contains a closed point of . Equivalently, the closed points are dense in every closed subset of .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A field , a finite-type -algebra , a closed subset , and the Axiom of Choice.
Every closed subset of has a unique radical defining ideal (Every Zariski-closed subset has a unique radical defining ideal).
Every point of an open subset has a distinguished-open neighbourhood inside that open subset (Every point of a Zariski-open set has a distinguished-open neighbourhood inside it).
Closed points of a prime spectrum are exactly maximal ideals (The closed points of the prime spectrum are exactly the maximal ideals).
In a finite-type algebra over a field, every radical ideal is the intersection of the maximal ideals containing it (In a finite-type algebra over a field, radical ideals are intersections of maximal ideals).
A quotient of a finite-type -algebra is again a finite-type -algebra.
Proof
If is a nonempty open subset, choose . By [L2], there exists such that . By [L1], write for a radical ideal . In the quotient , the class is not nilpotent, because otherwise every prime of would contain , contradicting .
The quotient is a finite-type -algebra by [A1]. Apply [L4] in to the radical ideal . Since is not in the intersection of all maximal ideals of , there exists a maximal ideal with . Let be the preimage of . Then and , so . By [L3], is a closed point of .
Step 2.1 shows that every nonempty open subset of contains a closed point. This is exactly the density of the closed points inside .
Depends on
Every Zariski-closed subset has a unique radical defining ideal
Every point of a Zariski-open set has a distinguished-open neighbourhood inside it
The closed points of the prime spectrum are exactly the maximal ideals
In a finite-type algebra over a field, radical ideals are intersections of maximal ideals