Congruences for 3-core cubic partitions (Q6107481)

A partition of a nonnegative integer \(n\) is a weakly decreasing sequence of positive integers \(\lambda=(\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\ldots,\lambda_s)\) such that \(\sum_{i=1}^s\lambda_i=n\). The study of arithmetic properties of \(p(n)\) emerged as a vibrant area of research since Ramanujan proved a set of congruences for \(p(n)\), including: \begin{align*} p(5n+4) &\equiv0\pmod{5},\\ p(7n+5) &\equiv0\pmod{7},\\ p(11n+6) &\equiv0\pmod{11}. \end{align*} A \(t\)-core partition of \(n\) is a partition having none of the hook numbers in its Ferrers graph divisible by \(t\), its generating function is given by \[ \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_t(n)q^n=\dfrac{(q^t;q^t)_\infty^t}{(q;q)_\infty}, \] where \(q\) is a complex number such that \(|q|<1\) and \[ (a;q)_\infty=\prod_{k=0}^\infty(1-aq^k). \] In 2010, \textit{H.-C. Chan} [Int. J. Number Theory 6, No. 3, 673--680 (2010; Zbl 1203.05008); Int. J. Number Theory 6, No. 4, 819--834 (2010; Zbl 1205.11111)] introduced the cubic partition function, \(a(n)\), in connection with Ramanujan's cubic continued fraction. To this end, he noted that the generating function for \(a(n)\) is given by \[ \sum_{n=0}^\infty a(n)q^n=\dfrac{1}{(q;q)_\infty(q^2;q^2)_\infty}. \] In 2017, \textit{D. S. Gireesh} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 453, No. 1, 20--31 (2017; Zbl 1404.05008)] considered the function \(C_3(n)\), which gives the number of 3-core cubic partitions. More precisely, \(C_3(n)\) denotes the number of cubic partitions where none of the hook numbers in the Ferrers graph of either of the partitions is divisible by \(3\). As noted by Gireesh, the generating function of \(C_3(n)\) is given by \[ \sum_{n=0}^\infty C_3(n)q^n=\dfrac{(q^3;q^3)_\infty^3(q^6;q^6)_\infty^3}{(q;q)_\infty(q^2;q^2)_\infty}. \] Gireesh proved a number of arithmetic properties satisfied by \(C_3(n)\), including the identity \(C_3(3n+2)=3C_3(n)\). In this paper under review, the authors extend significantly the list of proved arithmetic properties for \(C_3(n)\) by using elementary generating function manipulations and well-known \(q\)-series identities. For instance, one result proved in the present paper is that for any \(n\geq0\), \[ C_3\big(6p^{2k+1}n+5p^{2k+2}-1\big)\equiv0\pmod{4}, \] where \(p\) is a prime such that \(p\equiv3\pmod{4}\), and \(p\nmid n\).