Hasse--Schmidt derivations, divided powers and differential smoothness

Abstract

Let $k$ be a commutative ring, $A$ a commutative $k$-algebra and $D$ the filtered ring of $k$-linear differential operators of $A$. We prove that: (1) The graded ring $\gr D$ admits a canonical embedding $θ$ into the graded dual of the symmetric algebra of the module $Ω_{A/k}$ of differentials of $A$ over $k$, which has a canonical divided power structure. (2) There is a canonical morphism $\vartheta$ from the divided power algebra of the module of $k$-linear Hasse-Schmidt integrable derivations of $A$ to $\gr D$. (3) Morphisms $θ$ and $\vartheta$ fit into a canonical commutative diagram.