Odd unimodal sequences (Q6917077)

Unimodal and strongly unimodal sequences, in which entries first increase and then decrease, have long been linked with \(q\)-series and modular-type functions. In this paper the authors introduce and systematically study the \textit{odd} analogues, where all parts of the sequence are odd integers. They derive explicit two-variable generating functions for the numbers of odd unimodal and odd strongly unimodal sequences, expressed in terms of basic hypergeometric series and Bailey pairs. The results parallel known formulas for the ordinary cases but involve modified \(q\)-Pochhammer products with modulus~2. Using the Euler-Maclaurin summation formula and a Tauberian theorem, the authors determine precise asymptotic main terms for the counting functions \(ou(n)\) and \(ou^*(n)\). In addition, families of congruences modulo~4 for \(ou^*(n)\) are proved, generalizing earlier congruences for the strongly unimodal numbers. The analysis combines classical \(q\)-series identities, Bailey-pair machinery, modular and indefinite theta function techniques, and delicate asymptotic estimates. The paper closes with remarks on open problems and potential extensions.