Some hidden relations involving the ten symmetry classes of plane partitions (Q1337175)

There are ten distinct symmetry classes of plane partitions and hence ten corresponding enumeration problems. These problems have been solved in ``nice'' forms by different methods. Stembridge attempts to give a unified solution in the following way. Let \(B\) be a partially ordered product of three chains. For any group \(G\) of automorphisms of \(B\), let \(N_ G(B,q)\) denote the rank generating function for \(G\)-invariant order ideals of \(B\). \(N_ G(B,q)\) can be thought of as a generating function for plane partitions that fit inside \(B\). Let \(N_ G'(B,q)\) denote the rank generating function of the quotient poset \(B/G\). The author proves that \(N_ G(B,-1)\) and \(N_ G'(B,-1)\) count the number of plane partitions that are invariant under certain automorphisms and complementary operations on \(B\). He discovers that the number of plane partitions belonging to each of the ten symmetry classes is of the form \(N_ G(B,\pm 1)\) or \(N_ G'(B,\pm 1)\) for some subgroups \(G\) of \(S_ 3\).