Counting pattern-avoiding integer partitions

Abstract

A partition $\alpha$ is said to contain another partition (or pattern) $\mu$ if the Ferrers board for $\mu$ is attainable from $\alpha$ under removal of rows and columns. We say $\alpha$ avoids $\mu$ if it does not contain $\mu$. In this paper we count the number of partitions of $n$ avoiding a fixed pattern $\mu$, in terms of generating functions and their asymptotic growth rates. We find that the generating function for this count is rational whenever $\mu$ is (rook equivalent to) a partition in which any two part sizes differ by at least two. In doing so, we find a surprising connection to metacyclic $p$-groups. We further obtain asymptotics for the number of partitions of $n$ avoiding a pattern $\mu$. Using these asymptotics we conclude that the generating function for $\mu$ is not algebraic whenever $\mu$ is rook equivalent to a partition with distinct parts whose first two parts are positive and differ by 1.