On the Möbius number of the subgroup lattice of the symmetric group (Q1356039)

Given the subgroup lattices of finite groups it is clear that those of the symmetric groups \(S_n\) are possibly the most interesting ones from both a combinatorial and a group theory viewpoint given Cayley's theorem, etc. For finite lattices among the locally finite posets, the knowledge of the behavior of the Möbius functions of these lattices is of interest and thus also the computation and evaluation of the Möbius numbers \(\mu (1, S_n)\) of the subgroup lattices \(S_n\) becomes a matter of interest. A conjecture of Stanley concerning \(\mu(1,S_n)\), i.e., \(\mu (1,S_n)= (-1)^{n-1} |\Aut (S_n) |/2\) has been verified for \(n\leq 11\). In this paper the author determines \(\mu (1,S_n)\) for \(n=p\), \(n=2p\), \(n= 2^a\), \(p\) a prime, and not only determines some infinite families for which Stanley's conjecture is true but he also shows that if \(n=2p\), \(p\) an odd prime with \(n-1\) prime and \(p \equiv 3 \bmod 4\), then \(\mu (1,S_n)= -n!\), so that \(n=14 =2 \cdot 7\) provides a first counterexample to Stanley's conjecture. The paper is quite hefty and represents a substantial addition to the literature. Interestingly the many results obtained depend on very deep conclusions in group theory coupled with some subtle combinatorics implicit in the always delicate maneuvers involving the Möbius function as well as that associated with the symmetric groups \(S_n\) themselves and in this manner represents an excellent demonstration of the strength of the modern combinatorial methods to which this paper is a welcome contribution.