Higher Specht bases for generalizations of the coinvariant ring

Abstract: The classical coinvariant ring $R_n$ is defined as the quotient of a polynomial ring in $n$ variables by the positive-degree $S_n$-invariants. It has a known basis that respects the decomposition of $R_n$ into irreducible $S_n$-modules, consisting of the higher specht polynomials due to Ariki, Terasoma, and Yamada. We provide an extension of the higher Specht basis to the generalized coinvariant rings $R_{n,k}$. We also give a conjectured higher Specht basis for the Garsia-Procesi modules $R_\mu$, and provide a proof of the conjecture in the case of two-row partition shapes $\mu$. We then combine these results to give a higher Specht basis for an infinite subfamily of the modules $R_{n,k,\mu}$ recently defined by Griffin, which are a common generalization of $R_{n,k}$ and $R_{\mu}$.