E-polynomials of character varieties for real curves

We calculate the E-polynomial for a class of the (complex) character varieties $mathcal{M}_n^{tau}$ associated to a genus $g$ Riemann surface $Sigma$ equipped with an orientation reversing involution $tau$. Our formula expresses the generating function $sum_{n=1}^{infty} E(mathcal{M}_n^{tau}) T^n$ as the plethystic logarithm of a product of sums indexed by Young diagrams. The proof uses point counting over finite fields, emulating Hausel and Rodriguez-Villegas.