Spectral statistics of permutation matrices

We compute the mean two-point spectral form factor and the spectral number variance for permutation matrices of large order. The two-point correlation function is expressed in terms of generalized divisor functions, which are frequently discussed in number theory. Using classical results from number theory and casting them in a convenient form, we derive expressions which include the leading and next to leading terms in the asymptotic expansion, thus providing a new point of view on the subject, and improving some known results.