 Integral homology of complex Grassmannians

Here $N_r$ counts $k$-subsets $i_1<\cdots <i_k$ with ${\sum }_a(i_a-a)=r$, equivalently partitions of an integer $r$ contained in a $k$ by $(n-k)$ rectangle. The diagonal trace Morse function on a complex Grassmannian has only even Morse indices. Its Morse chain complex therefore has zero differentials, proving the displayed torsion-free integral homology. For $\mathrm{Gr}(2,4)$ the even-degree ranks are $(1,1,2,1,1)$ in degrees $0,2,4,6,8$.