Two cores of a nonnegative matrix

We prove that the sequence of eigencones (i.e., cones of nonnegative eigenvectors) of positive powers Ak of a nonnegative square matrix A is periodic both in max algebra and in nonnegative linear algebra. Using an argument of Pullman, we also show that the Minkowski sum of the eigencones of powers of A is equal to the core of A defined as the intersection of nonnegative column spans of matrix powers, also in max algebra. Based on this, we describe the set of extremal rays of the core.