Incongruences for modular forms and applications to partition functions (Q2214088)

The study of arithmetic properties of coefficients of modular forms has a rich history, including deep results regarding congruences in arithmetic progressions. Following the work of \textit{S.~Ahlgren} and \textit{B.~Kim} [Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 158, No. 1, 111--129 (2015; Zbl 1371.11086)], \textit{N.~Andersen} [Q. J. Math. 65, No. 3, 781--805 (2014; Zbl 1302.11025)], and \textit{S.~Löbrich} [Res. Number Theory 3, Paper No. 18, 8 p. (2017; Zbl 1405.11044)], the authors further investigate congruence properties for coefficients of certain modular forms. Let \(B\in\mathbb{Z}\), \(k\in\frac{1}{2}\mathbb{Z}\), and \(N\in\mathbb{Z}^+\), and denote \[ \mathcal{S}(B,k,N,\chi):=\left\{\eta^B(\tau)F(\tau): ~F(\tau)\in M_k^!(\Gamma_0(N),\chi)\right\}, \] where \(M_k^!(\Gamma_0(N),\chi)\) is the space of weakly holomorphic modular forms of weight \(k\) and level \(N\) with character \(\chi\) and \(\eta(\tau)\) is the Dedekind eta function. The authors prove a general theorem concerning the non-existence of congruences about the coefficients of modular forms. More precisely, if \(f(\tau)=q^{B/24}\sum\limits_{n\geq n_0}a(n)q^n\in\mathcal{S}(B,k,N,\chi)\) have rational \(\ell\)-integral coefficients (\(\ell\) is prime), let \(m\in\mathbb{Z}^+\) and let \(t_0\in\mathbb{Z}\) such that \(a(t_0)\not\equiv0\pmod{\ell}\) and \(a(n)=0\) for all \(n<t_0\) with \(n\equiv t_0\pmod{m}\). The for all \(t\in\{0,\cdots,m-1\}\) such that \[ t\equiv t_0d^2+B\dfrac{d^2-1}{24}\pmod{m} \] for some integer \(d\) with \(\gcd(d, 6Nm)=1\), then \(a(mn+t)\not\equiv0\pmod{\ell}\). Next, the authors apply this method to several noteworthy examples, including \(k\)-colored generalized Frobenius partition function \(c\phi_k(n)\) and the two mock theta functions \(f(q)\) and \(\omega(q)\). For example, for any prime \(\ell\geq5\) such that \(k\not\equiv0\pmod{\ell}\), if \(\left(\frac{k(k-24)}{\ell}\right)=-1\), then \[ c\phi_k(\ell n+t)\not\equiv0\pmod{\ell} \] for all \(t\) except possibly \(t\equiv k(1-\ell^2)/24\pmod{\ell}\).