Random Fields and Spin Glasses
A Field Theory Approach

Theory of magnetic systems for graduate students and researchers in statistical physics and basic field theory.

Cirano De Dominicis (Author), Irene Giardina (Author)

9780521847834, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 October 2006

230 pages
25.4 x 17.8 x 1.4 cm, 0.62 kg

Review of the hardback: ' … written in a masterly and elegant fashion by two remarkable researchers who have themselves … fundamentally contributed to the subject …' Journal of Statistical Physics

Disordered magnetic systems enjoy non-trivial properties which are different and richer than those observed in their pure, non-disordered counterparts. These properties dramatically affect the thermodynamic behaviour and require specific theoretical treatment. This book deals with the theory of magnetic systems in the presence of frozen disorder, in particular paradigmatic and well-known spin models such as the Random Field Ising Model and the Ising Spin Glass. This is a unified presentation using a field theory language which covers mean field theory, dynamics and perturbation expansion within the same theoretical framework. Particular emphasis is given to the connections between different approaches such as statics vs. dynamics, microscopic vs. phenomenological models. The book introduces some useful and little-known techniques in statistical mechanics and field theory. This book will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers in statistical physics and basic field theory.

1. A brief introduction
2. The Random Field Ising model
3. The dynamical approach
4. The p=2 spherical model
5. Mean field spin glasses: one-step RSB
6. The Sherrington–Kirkpatrick model
7. Mean field via TAP equations
8. Spin glass above D=6
9. Propagators, mostly replicon
10. Ward–Takahashi identities and Goldstone modes
11. Alternative approaches and conclusions
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: Statistical physics [PHS], Condensed matter physics [liquid state & solid state physics PHFC]