A Unified Partial and Mock Theta Function

Abstract

Unary theta functions have played a significant role in the theory of holomorphic modular forms and modular $L$-functions. A partial theta functions is defined analogously, but the sum is over part of the integer lattice. Such sums fail to have modular properties. We give a construction which unifies these partial theta functions with the mock theta function introduced by Ramanujan. The modularity of Ramanujan's mock theta functions has only recently been understood by the work of Sander Zwegers.