Definition:Submersion

Open Sets in $\R^n$
Let $k, m, n \ge 1$ be natural numbers.

Let $U \subset \R^n$ be open.

Let $f: U \to \R^m$ be a mapping.

Then $f$ is a $C^k$-submersion $f$ is of class $C^k$ and its differential $\d f$ is surjective at every point of $U$.

Rank
The rank of a submersion is the rank of its differential at any point.

Manifolds
Let $X$ and $Y$ be manifolds, with $\dim X \ge \dim Y$.

Let $f: X \to Y$ be smooth and $\map f x = y$.

Let $\d f_x: \map {T_x} X \to \map {T_y} Y$ be a surjection.

Then $f$ is a submersion of $X$ on $Y$.

Also see

 * Definition:Immersion