Iterating the RSK bijection

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of the well-known RSK bijection on permutations when iterated on various reading words of the recording tableau. In the setting of the ordinary (row) reading word, we show that there is exactly one fixed point per partition shape, and that it is always reached within two steps from any starting permutation.

We also consider the modified dynamical systems formed by iterating RSK on the column reading word and the reversed reading word of the recording tableau. We show that the column reading word gives similar dynamics to the row reading word. On the other hand, for the reversed reading word, we always reach either a $2$-cycle or fixed point after two steps. In fact, we reach a fixed point if and only if the shape of the initial tableau is self-conjugate.