The space of generically \'etale families

Abstract

We construct a space $G^n_X$ and a rank $n$, generically etale family of closed subspaces in a separated ambient space $X$. The constructed pair satisfies a universal property of generically etale families of closed subspaces in $X$. This universal property is derived directly from the construction and does in particular not use the Hilbert scheme. The constructed space $G^n_X$ is by its universal property canonically identified with a closed subspace of the Hilbert scheme.