Combinatorial identities associated with a bivariate generating function for overpartition pairs

Abstract

We obtain a three-parameter $q$-series identity that generalizes two results of Chan and Mao. By specializing our identity, we derive new results of combinatorial significance in connection with $N(r, s, m, n)$, a function counting certain overpartition pairs recently introduced by Bringmann, Lovejoy and Osburn. For example, one of our identities gives a closed-form evaluation of a double series in terms of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind, thereby resulting in an analogue of Euler's pentagonal number theorem. Another of our results expresses a multi-sum involving $N(r, s, m, n)$ in terms of just the partition function $p(n)$. Using a result of Shimura we also relate a certain double series with a weight 7/2 theta series.