ELEMENTARY ORBIFOLD DIFFERENTIAL TOPOLOGY

Abstract. Taking an elementary and straightforward approach, we develop the concept of a regular value for a smooth map f: O → P between smooth orbifolds O and P. We show that Sard’s theorem holds and that the inverse image of a regular value is a smooth full suborbifold of O. We also study some constraints that the existence of a smooth orbifold map imposes on local isotropy groups. As an application, we prove a Borsuk no retraction theorem for compact orbifolds with boundary and some obstructions to the existence of real-valued orbifold maps from local model orbifold charts. 1