Cycle indices and subgroup lattices (Q685578)

The present paper is devoted to calculations both in the incidence algebra of the subgroup lattice \(L_ G\) of a finite group \(G\) and of the poset \(P_ G\) of conjugacy classes of subgroups. Such calculations occur in the framework of enumeration of orbits with prescribed stabilizer class (cf. Burnside's Lemma). The authors in particular introduce a generalization of the cycle index polynomial that allows better to organize things. Assume that \(\Delta\) is a mapping from \(P_ G\) to an algebra \(\mathbb{A}\) over the rationals, which we assume canonically to be embedded into the incidence algebra over \(P_ G\), and that \(F\leq H\) are subgroups of \(G\), then the cycle index with respect to \(\Delta\) is defined to be \[ \text{Cyc} (F,H;\Delta):={1 \over | H |} \sum_{h \in H} \Delta (\langle \text{h} \rangle \vee F). \] An application is a Pólya-like substitution formula for the inventory with respect to a wreath product action.