Definition
Let L/k be a finite extension of fields, and X a variety defined over L. The functor from k-schemesop to sets is defined by
(In particular, the k-rational points of are the L-rational points of X.) The variety that represents this functor is called the restriction of scalars, and is unique up to unique isomorphism if it exists.
From the standpoint of sheaves of sets, restriction of scalars is just a pushforward along the morphism Spec L Spec k and is right adjoint to fiber product, so the above definition can be rephrased in much more generality. In particular, one can replace the extension of fields by any morphism of ringed topoi, and the hypotheses on X can be weakened to e.g. stacks. This comes at the cost of having less control over the behavior of the restriction of scalars.
Read more about this topic: Weil Restriction
Famous quotes containing the word definition:
“Im beginning to think that the proper definition of Man is an animal that writes letters.”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (18321898)
“Beauty, like all other qualities presented to human experience, is relative; and the definition of it becomes unmeaning and useless in proportion to its abstractness. To define beauty not in the most abstract, but in the most concrete terms possible, not to find a universal formula for it, but the formula which expresses most adequately this or that special manifestation of it, is the aim of the true student of aesthetics.”
—Walter Pater (18391894)
“Mothers often are too easily intimidated by their childrens negative reactions...When the child cries or is unhappy, the mother reads this as meaning that she is a failure. This is why it is so important for a mother to know...that the process of growing up involves by definition things that her child is not going to like. Her job is not to create a bed of roses, but to help him learn how to pick his way through the thorns.”
—Elaine Heffner (20th century)