Composite fermions and integer partitions (Q5947372)

The authors prove the unimodality of integer partitions with at most \(a\) parts, all parts less than or equal to \(b\), that are required to contain either repeated or consecutive parts. The proof uses the KOH theorem [\textit{D. Zeilberger}, Am. Math. Mon. 96, No. 7, 590-602 (1989; Zbl 0726.05005)]. This answers a previously open question of quantum mechanics involving the composite fermion model of the fractional quantum Hall effect.