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An axiomatization of six-functor formalisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2026

Josefien Kuijper*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Stockholm University , Sweden Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto , Canada

Abstract

In this paper, we consider two variations on Mann’s $\infty $-categorical definition of abstract six-functor formalisms. We consider Nagata six-functor formalisms, that have the additional requirement of having Grothendieck and Wirthmüller contexts. We also consider local six-functor formalisms, which in addition to this, take values in presentable stable $\infty $-categories, and have recollements. Using Nagata’s compactification theorem, we show that Nagata six-functor formalisms on varieties can be given by just specifying adjoint triples for open immersions and for proper morphisms, satisfying certain compatibilities. The existence of recollements is (almost) equivalent to a hypersheaf condition for a Grothendieck topology on the category of “varieties and spans consisting of an open immersion and a proper map”. Using this characterization, we show that the category of local six-functor formalisms embeds faithfully into the category of lax symmetric monoidal functors from the category of smooth and complete varieties to the category of presentable stable $\infty $-categories and adjoint triples. We characterize which lax symmetric monoidal functors on complete varieties, taking values in the category of presentable stable $\infty $-categories and adjoint triples, extend to local six-functor formalisms.

MSC classification

Information

Type
Algebraic and Complex Geometry
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press