Elementary proofs of identities for Schur functions and plane partitions (Q1567063)

The author gives proofs of several formulas which represent sums of restricted classes of Schur functions as ratios of determinants, using only elementary methods with generating functions. These include an identity of \textit{J. Désarménien} [Strasbourg Publ.\ I.R.M.A. Actes du 15ieme Séminaire Lotharingen de Combinatoire 340/S-15, 39-49 (1987)] and \textit{J. R. Stembridge} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 319, No. 2, 469-498 (1990; Zbl 0707.05006)] for the sum of all Schur functions indexed by partitions \(\lambda\) into at most \(n\) even parts each at most \(m\), and an identity of \textit{S. Okada} [J. Algebra 205, No. 2, 337-367 (1998; Zbl 0915.20023)] for the sum of all Schur functions indexed by partitions \(\lambda\) into at most \(n\) parts each at most \(m\) such that the conjugate of \(\lambda\) has only even parts. These formulas give generating functions for certain classes of symmetric plane partitions (partition diagrams filled with entries which are non-increasing in each row and column).