Yes, using the x operator with references employs the same reference each time. Why? Because that's the most efficient way of doing it, I'd gather, regardless of whether you're using references or not!

As proof, run these in the Perl debugger. (The first x is the 'display this data' instruction to the debugger.) You could also check the source code (pp.c) where the repeatcpy() C function or macro is employed.

x map \$_, ("japhy") x 5;
x ([]) x 5;
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Jeff[japhy]Pinyan: Perl, regex, and perl hacker, who'd like a job (NYC-area)
s++=END;++y(;-P)}y js++=;shajsj<++y(p-q)}?print:??;