The asymptotic distribution of Andrews’ smallest parts function

Abstract

In this paper, we use methods from the spectral theory of automorphic forms to give an asymptotic formula with a power saving error term for Andrews’ smallest parts function spt(n). We use this formula to deduce an asymptotic formula with a power saving error term for the number of 2-marked Durfee symbols associated to partitions of n. Our method requires that we count the number of Heegner points of discriminant −D < 0 and level N inside an “expanding” rectangle contained in a fundamental domain for Γ0(N).