The oriented swap process and last passage percolation

Abstract

We present new probabilistic and combinatorial identities relating three random processes: the oriented swap process on $n$ particles, the corner growth process, and the last passage percolation model. We prove one of the probabilistic identities, relating a random vector of last passage percolation times to its dual, using the duality between the Robinson-Schensted-Knuth and Burge correspondences. A second probabilistic identity, relating those two vectors to a vector of 'last swap times' in the oriented swap process, is conjectural. We give a computer-assisted proof of this identity for $n\le 6$ after first reformulating it as a purely combinatorial identity, and discuss its relation to the Edelman-Greene correspondence. The conjectural identity provides precise finite-$n$ and asymptotic predictions on the distribution of the absorbing time of the oriented swap process, thus conditionally solving an open problem posed by Angel, Holroyd and Romik.