Rank-crank-type PDEs and generalized Lambert series identities (Q2376141)

Let \(m\) be a positive integer. Consider the Appell function \[ \Sigma^{(2m+1)}(z,q) := \sum_{n \in \mathbb{Z}} \frac{(-1)^nq^{(2m+1)\binom{n+1}{2}}}{1-zq^n} \] and the infinite product \[ C^*(z,q) := \frac{(q)_{\infty}}{(z)_{\infty}(q/z)_{\infty}}, \] where as usual, \[ (a)_{\infty} := \prod_{n \geq 1}(1-aq^{n-1}). \] The authors show that there exist quasimodular forms \(f_j\) such that \[ \left({H}^{m}_{2m+1} + \sum_{k=0}^{m-1} f_{m-k}{H}^k_{2m+1}\right) \Sigma^{(2m+1)}(z,q) = (2m)!\left[C^*(z,q)\right]^{2m+1}(q)_{\infty}^{2m+1}, \] where the differential operator \(H_k\) is defined by \[ H_k := k\delta_z + 2k\delta_q + \delta_z^2, \] with \[ \delta_x := x\frac{\partial}{\partial x}. \] This is comparable to a theorem of \textit{S. Zwegers} [Acta Arith. 144, No. 3, 263--273 (2010; Zbl 1253.11094)]. It is called a ``rank-crank PDE'' because the Appell functions are closely related to higher ranks of partitions while \((1-z)C^*(z,q)\) is the two-variable crank generating function. The result follows from differentiating a generalized Lambert series identity of the first author. When \(m=1\) one has the original rank-crank PDE of \textit{A. O. L. Atkin} and \textit{F. G. Garvan} [Ramanujan J. 7, No. 1--3, 343--366 (2003; Zbl 1039.11069)].