On mex-related partition functions of Andrews and Newman (Q2045744)

The minimal excludant, or ``mex'' function, on a set \(S\) of positive integers is the least positive integer not in \(S\). Very recently, \textit{G.E.~Andrews} and \textit{D.~Newman} [J. Integer Seq. 23, No. 2, Article 20.2.3, 11 p. (2020; Zbl 1441.11265)] generalized this function to integer partitions and established numerous partition identities. Soon after, \textit{R.~da Silva} and \textit{J.A.~Sellers} [J. Integer Seq. 23, No. 5, Article 20.5.7, 9 p. (2020; Zbl 1480.11131)] investigated one of the families of functions due to Andrews and Newman, given by \begin{align*} \sum_{n=0}^\infty p_{t,t}(n)q^n=\dfrac{1}{(q;q)_\infty}\sum_{n=0}^\infty(-1)^nq^{tn(n+1)/2}, \end{align*} where \begin{align*} (a;q)_\infty=\prod_{k=0}^\infty(1-aq^k),\qquad|q|<1. \end{align*} They obtained complete parity characterizations of \(p_{1,1}(n)\) and \(p_{3,3}(n)\). The authors further study parity properties of \(p_{2^\alpha,2^\alpha}(n)\) and \(p_{3\cdot2^\alpha,3\cdot2^\alpha}(n)\), where \(\alpha\geq1\). More precisely, they proved that for any \(\alpha\geq1\), \begin{align*} &\lim_{X\rightarrow\infty}\dfrac{\#\{0\leq n\leq X:~p_{2^\alpha,2^\alpha}(n)\equiv0\pmod{2}\}}{X}\\ &=\lim_{X\rightarrow\infty}\dfrac{\#\{0\leq n\leq X:~p_{3\cdot2^\alpha,3\cdot2^\alpha}(n)\equiv0 \pmod{2}\}}{X}=1. \end{align*} Moreover, utilizing a result of \textit{K.~Ono} and \textit{Y.~Taguchi} [Int. J. Number Theory 1, No. 1, 75--101 (2005; Zbl 1084.11014)] on nilpotency of Hecke operators, the authors obtain two infinite families of congruences modulo 2 enjoyed by \(p_{2^\alpha,2^\alpha}(n)\) and \(p_{3\cdot2^\alpha,3\cdot2^\alpha}(n)\). They prove that there is an integer \(c_1\geq0\) such that for every \(d_1\geq1\) and distinct primes \(p_1,\ldots,p_{c_1+d_1}\) coprime to \(6\), \begin{align*} p_{2^\alpha,2^\alpha}{\left(\dfrac{p_1\cdots p_{c_1+d_1}\cdot n+1-3\cdot2^\alpha}{24}\right)}\equiv 0\pmod{2}, \end{align*} where \(\gcd(n,p_1\cdots p_{c_1+d_1})=1\). They also derive a similar result for the function \(p_{3\cdot2^\alpha,3\cdot2^\alpha}(n)\).