Congruence properties of coefficients of the eighth-order mock theta function \(V_0(q)\) (Q2070387)

The author considers Gordon and McIntosh's eighth order mock theta function \[ V_0(q) = -1 + 2 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{q^{n^2}(-q;q^2)_n}{(q;q^2)_n}, \] in its normalized guise as \(\sum_{n=0}^\infty v_0(n)q^n = \frac{V_0(q)+1}{2}\). In this form, \(v_0(n)\) is the number of overpartitions of \(n\) into odd parts without gaps between nonoverlined parts. The main results of the paper are infinite families of congruences for \(v_0\) to indefinitely high powers of 2 (Theorems and Corollaries 1.1 to 1.5), which advance over previously known infinite families. In addition, the author constructs several individual congruences modulo 13, 27, and 25 (Theorems 5.1 to 5.6). Some sample statements from the theorems are as follows. Theorem. For any integer \(n \geq 0\), \(\alpha, \beta > 0\), odd prime \(p\), with \(r\) and \(8j+1\) quadratic nonresidues mod \(p\), we have \begin{align*} v_0(2^{2\alpha+2}(pn+r)) &\equiv 0 \pmod{2^{3\alpha+2}} \\ v_0(2^{2\alpha+2}(8n+5)) &\equiv 0 \pmod{2^{3\alpha+6}} \\ v_0(2^{2\alpha+2}p^{2\beta}(8pn+8i+p)) &\equiv 0 \pmod{2^{2\alpha+9}}, i \in \{1,2,\dots,p-1\} \\ v_0(160n+i) &\equiv 0 \pmod{25}, i \in \{68,132\} \\ v_0(3^3(96n+76)) &\equiv 0 \pmod{27}. \end{align*} The author's method is based in dissection of \(q\)-series, employing the Huffing operator and setting up an induction via a matrix which, when applied to dissect the generating functions at each step, yields a multiple which adds another power to the modulus. The process will be familiar to readers conversant with similar previous theorems in the area, especially the work of Hirschhorn.