# Structure sheaf of a fiber

Let $\phi: Y\to X$ be an affine (finite & dominant) morphism of (smooth) $\Bbbk$-varieties. Let $Y_P$ be the scheme-theoretic fiber of $P\in X$, i.e. $Y_P=Y\times_X\mathrm{Spec}(\Bbbk(P))$. I was told that $Y_P=\mathrm{Spec}((\phi_\ast\mathcal{O}_Y)_P)$, but I do not see how to prove it.

(I assume that the conditions in brackets can be omitted, but you may assume them if necessary)

Clearly, we can do this locally and assume $Y=\mathrm{Spec}(B)$ as well as $X=\mathrm{Spec}(A)$. Now, I would have said that $Y_P=\mathrm{Spec}(B\otimes_A\Bbbk(P))$ but $(\phi_\ast\mathcal{O}_Y)_P=B\otimes_A A_P$, which is why I am confused.

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I would phrase your last paragraph differently: clearly we can do this locally on $X$, so assume $X=\operatorname{Spec}A$, and, since $\phi$ is affine, that also $Y$ is affine. –  Mariano Suárez-Alvarez Jan 21 '12 at 23:36

The morphism $i: Spec (A_P) \to X=Spec (A)$ however is not uninteresting.
It is technically not an immersion but strongly resembles one. Its image is exactly the intersection of all neighbourhoods of $P \in X$, and may be thought of as some sort of germ of $X$ at $P$.
Coming back to $\phi:Y\to X$, the canonical morphism (= projection) of the fibered product $Y\times_X Spec (A_P)=Spec( B\otimes_A A_P)$ into $Y \;$ is injective and its image $Y_{(P)}\subset Y$ can be thought of as some thickening of the genuine fiber $Y_P=Spec (B\otimes_A\kappa(P))$ .
Summing-up, we have $Y \supset Y_{(P)}=\phi^{-1}(Spec (A_P))\supset Y_P=\phi^{-1}(Spec (\kappa(P)))$