Blocks for symmetric groups and their covering groups and quadratic forms (Q1922683)

The problem of proving the existence of \(p\)-core and \(p\)-bar core partitions of any integer \(n\) for suitable primes \(p\) may be seen as a combinatorial and also as number theoretic problem and it has importance for the modular representation theory of the finite symmetric groups and their covering groups. The authors verify the existence of \(p\)-cores for any \(n\) for \(p=5\) and 7 and also give the complete answer to the problem for \(p\)-bar cores for \(p=5\) and 7. It should be mentioned that after the authors finished their work the general existence problems for \(p\)-cores and \(p\)-bar cores were solved by \textit{A. J. Granville} and \textit{K. Ono} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 348, No. 1, 331-347 (1996; Zbl 0855.20007)]\ and by \textit{I. Kiming} [J. Number Theory 60, No. 1, 97-102 (1996; Zbl 0864.11049) and Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 48, No. 189, 59-65 (1997; Zbl 0894.11038)].