Proof of a conjecture on a congruence modulo 243 for overpartitions (Q2338606)

An overpartition of a positive integer \(n\) is a partition of \(n\) in which the first occurrence of a part may be overlined. Let \(\overline{p}(n)\) denote the number of overpartitions of \(n\). \textit{J. F. Fortin} et al. [Ramanujan J. 10, No. 2, 215--235 (2005; Zbl 1079.05003)], \textit{J.-F. Fortin} et al. [Ramanujan J. 10, 215--235 (2005; Zbl 1079.05003)], \textit{M. D. Hirschhorn} and \textit{J. A. Sellers} [J. Comb. Math. Comb. Comput. 53, 65--73 (2005; Zbl 1086.11048)] established some congruences modulo powers of 2 for \(\overline{p}(n)\). \textit{E. X. W. Xia} and \textit{O. X. M. Yao} [J. Number Theory 133, 1932--1949 (2013; Zbl 1275.11136)] and \textit{E. X. W. Xia} [Ramanujan J. 42, 301--323 (2017; Zbl 1422.11214)] found several congruences modulo powers of 2 and 3. Moreover, \textit{E. X. W. Xia} [ibid.] conjectured that, for \(n \ge 0\), \(\overline{p}(96n+76)\equiv 0 \mod 243.\) \par In the paper under review the authors confirm this conjecture by using theta function identities and the \((p, k)\)-parametrization of theta functions due to \textit{A. Alaca, Ş. Alaca,} and \textit{K. S. Williams} [Acta Arith. 124, 177--195 (2006; Zbl 1127.11035)], \textit{Ş. Alaca} and \textit{K. S. Williams} [Funct. Approximatio, Comment. Math. 43, 45--54 (2010; Zbl 1213.11087)].