Let me denote $X_n$ the set of transpositions in $n$ elements. Equivalently, $X_n$ is the set of doubletons in $[1,n]\times[1,n]$. The cardinality of $X_n$ is $N=\frac{n(n-1)}{2}$.
If $f:{\mathbb Z}/N{\mathbb Z}\rightarrow X_n$ is a bijection, let us denote $$r(f):=\min\{|\ell-m|;\ell\ne m\quad\hbox{and}\quad f(\ell)\cap f(m)\ne\emptyset\}.$$ Finally, let us define $$R_n:=\max\{r(f);\hbox{bijections}\quad f:{\mathbb Z}/N{\mathbb Z}\rightarrow X_n\}.$$
What is the asymptotics of $R_n$ as $n\rightarrow+\infty$. Is it $R_n\sim cn$ for some $c\in(0,\frac12)$? Or do we have $R_n=o(n)$?
My motivation comes from a numerical algorithm due to Jacobi for the calculation of the spectrum of Hermitian matrices. Each step operates on a pair of rows/columns, with the effect of settong the entry $a_{ij}$ to zero. Once one has act on a row, it seems better to avoid coming back to it too soon. On an other hand, one needs to visit every pairs $(i,j)$ every $N$ steps.