On a conjecture of Foulkes (Q1975905)

Let \(P(a,b)\) be the set of unordered partitions of the integers \(1, \dots,ab\) into \(a\) parts of cardinality \(b\). Let \({\mathbb{C}}P(a,b)\) be the permutation module obtained from the action of the symmetric group \(S_{ab}\) on \(P(a,b)\); equivalently, it is the permutation representation of \(S_{ab}\) on the cosets of the wreath product \(S_b\wr S_a\). The author gives a new proof of the decomposition of \({\mathbb{C}}P(3,k)\) into irreducibles, and a partial decomposition of \({\mathbb{C}}P(k,3)\) which shows that \({\mathbb{C}}P(3,k)\) is isomorphic to a submodule of \({\mathbb{C}}P(k,3)\). This proves a case of the conjecture of \textit{H. O. Foulkes} [J. Lond. Math. Soc. 25, 205-209 (1950; Zbl 0037.14902)] that \({\mathbb{C}}P(a,b)\) is isomorphic to a submodule of \({\mathbb{C}}P(b,a)\) for all \(a<b\).