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Cambridge University Press eBooks

Mean field theory I: Ising model, equilibrium theory

K. H. Fischer, John Hertz

Published May 2, 1991• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this chapter we will put the concepts we have developed in Chapter 2 to work in constructing the mean field theory for an Ising spin glass. The term ‘mean field theory’ (henceforth frequently abbreviated ‘MFT’) can be interpreted in many ways. Here we will take it to mean the exact solution of a model in which the forces are of infinitely long range, so that each spin interacts equally strongly with every other one. For spin glasses, this is the Sherrington–Kirkpatrick (SK) model (1975), which we solve heuristically (though unfortunately incorrectly) in Section 3.1. The error is a somewhat subtle one, as is evident from the fact that we obtain exactly the same result in the more systematic calculations of Sections 3.2 (a direct summation of the leading terms in N −1 in high-temperature perturbation theory) and 3.3 (which uses the replica formalism). In both these approaches, we can also see how the theory itself reveals that it is wrong, since they lead to negative values of quantities which are necessarily positive. We then study the correct mean field theory, with replica symmetry breaking, in Section 3.4, including the remarkable nature of the broken ergodicity it implies and an examination of its stability. Further physical insight into the problem is obtained in Section 3.5 from the mean field equations first introduced by Thouless, Anderson and Palmer (TAP) (1977).

DOI
10.1017/cbo9780511628771.004

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Abstract This chapter discusses the problem of spin glasses. If the interactions between spins are not uniform in space, the analysis of the previous chapter does not apply. In particular, when the interactions are ferromagnetic for some bonds and antiferromagnetic for others, the spin orientation cannot be uniform in space, unlike the ferromagnetic system. Under such a circumstance it sometimes happens that spins become randomly frozen — random in space but frozen in time. This is the intuitive picture of the spin glass phase. The chapter investigates the condition for the existence of the spin glass phase as an extension of the mean-field theory. In particular, the properties of the so-called replica-symmetric solution are explained in detail for the Sherrington–Kirkpatrick (SK) model.

•Jul 19, 2001•6 citations
In this chapter we will put the concepts we have developed in Chapter 2 to work in constructing the mean field theory for an Ising spin glass. The term ‘mean field theory’ (henceforth frequently abbreviated ‘MFT’) can be interpreted in many ways. Here we will take it to mean the exact solution of a model in which the forces are of infinitely long range, so that each spin interacts equally strongly with every other one. For spin glasses, this is the Sherrington–Kirkpatrick (SK) model (1975), which we solve heuristically (though unfortunately incorrectly) in Section 3.1. The error is a somewhat subtle one, as is evident from the fact that we obtain exactly the same result in the more systematic calculations of Sections 3.2 (a direct summation of the leading terms in N −1 in high-temperature perturbation theory) and 3.3 (which uses the replica formalism). In both these approaches, we can also see how the theory itself reveals that it is wrong, since they lead to negative values of quantities which are necessarily positive. We then study the correct mean field theory, with replica symmetry breaking, in Section 3.4, including the remarkable nature of the broken ergodicity it implies and an examination of its stability. Further physical insight into the problem is obtained in Section 3.5 from the mean field equations first introduced by Thouless, Anderson and Palmer (TAP) (1977).
This thesis is concerned with the mean field theory of spin glasses within the replica method approach. We have studied the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model [33,4δ] both with Ising and m-component spins. It is shown that the replica symmetric solution gives an instability in the condensed phase which requires a breaking of replica symmetry in the spin glass phase. The various broken replica symmetry solutions proposed thus far (Bray and Moore [52], Blandin et al [53], Parisi [54]) are reviewed and particular attention is given to the one proposed by Parisi. The order parameter susceptibility and the stability of the solution are studied within this breaking of replica symmetry scheme which give results in agreement with the predictions of TAP [47] and Bray and Moore [52]. The breakdown of linear response theory in the spin glass phase is also discussed.
A class of infinite-ranged random model Hamiltonians is defined as a limiting case in which the appropriate form of mean-field theory, order parameters and phase diagram to describe spin-glasses may be established. It is believed that these Hamiltonians may be exactly soluble, although a complete solution is not yet available. Thermodynamic properties of the model for Ising and XY\mathrm{XY}XY spins are evaluated using a many-replica procedure. Results of the replica theory reproduce properties at and above the ordering temperature which are also predicted by high-temperature expansions, but are in error at low temperatures. Extensive computer simulations of infinite-ranged Ising spin-glasses are presented. They confirm the general details of the predicted phase diagram. The errors in the replica solution are found to be small, and confined to low temperatures. For this model, the extended mean-field theory of Thouless, Anderson, and Palmer gives physically sensible low-temperature predictions. These are in quantitative agreement with the Monte Carlo statics. The dynamics of the infinite-ranged Ising spin-glass are studied in a linearized mean-field theory. Critical slowing down is predicted and found, with correlations decaying as ${e}^{{\ensuremath{-}[\frac{(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c})}{T}]}^{2}t}$ for TTT greater than Tc{T}_{c}Tc​, the spin-glass transition temperature. At and below Tc{T}_{c}Tc​, spin-spin correlations are observed to decay to their long-time limit as ${t}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$.
A class of infinite-ranged random model Hamiltonians is defined as a limiting case in which the appropriate form of mean-field theory, order parameters and phase diagram to describe spin-glasses may be established. It is believed that these Hamiltonians may be exactly soluble, although a complete solution is not yet available. Thermodynamic properties of the model for Ising and XY\mathrm{XY}XY spins are evaluated using a "many-replica" procedure. Results of the replica theory reproduce properties at and above the ordering temperature which are also predicted by high-temperature expansions, but are in error at low temperatures. Extensive computer simulations of infinite-ranged Ising spin-glasses are presented. They confirm the general details of the predicted phase diagram. The errors in the replica solution are found to be small, and confined to low temperatures. For this model, the extended mean-field theory of Thouless, Anderson, and Palmer gives physically sensible low-temperature predictions. These are in quantitative agreement with the Monte Carlo statics. The dynamics of the infinite-ranged Ising spin-glass are studied in a linearized mean-field theory. Critical slowing down is predicted and found, with correlations decaying as ${e}^{{\ensuremath{-}[\frac{(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c})}{T}]}^{2}t}$ for TTT greater than Tc{T}_{c}Tc​, the spin-glass transition temperature. At and below Tc{T}_{c}Tc​, spin-spin correlations are observed to decay to their long-time limit as ${t}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$.
PACS. 75.10.Nr – Spin-glass and other random models. PACS. 84.35.+i – Neural networks. Abstract. – The stability of the TAP mean field equations is reanalyzed with the conclusion that the exclusive reason for the breakdown at the spin glass instability is an inconsistency for the value of the local susceptibility. A new alternative approach leads to modified equations which are in complete agreement with the original ones above the instability. Essentially altered results below the instability are presented and the consequences for the dynamical mean field equations are discussed. Introduction. – Together with the replica approach, the Thouless-Anderson-Palmer (TAP) approach [1] is the most important method to analyze infinite range spin glass models like the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick (SK) model [2] of Ising spins (for reviews see [3, 4]). The TAP equations are well established [3–5] and are exact in the thermodynamic limit (N → ∞) provided that the local magnetizations {mi} satisfy the condition
We discuss the dynamics of the infinite-range Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin-glass model for which relaxation times diverge when NNN, the number of spins, tends to infinity. Calculations on a large but finite system are very difficult, so we mimic a large finite system in equilibrium by working with $N=\ensuremath{\infty}$ and imposing, by hand, a canonical distribution at an initial time. For short times, where no barrier hopping has occurred, we find that the Edwards-Anderson order parameter, qEA{q}_{\mathrm{EA}}qEA​, is identical to that obtained from an analysis of the mean-field equations of Thouless, Anderson, and Palmer and, with further assumptions, gives q(x=1)q(x=1)q(x=1) in Parisi's theory, in agreement with earlier work. For times longer than the longest relaxation time (of the finite system), true equilibrium is reached and our theory agrees with previous statistical-mechanics calculations using the replica trick. There is no violation of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem.
Abstract This chapter discusses the problem of spin glasses. If the interactions between spins are not uniform in space, the analysis of the previous chapter does not apply. In particular, when the interactions are ferromagnetic for some bonds and antiferromagnetic for others, the spin orientation cannot be uniform in space, unlike the ferromagnetic system. Under such a circumstance it sometimes happens that spins become randomly frozen — random in space but frozen in time. This is the intuitive picture of the spin glass phase. The chapter investigates the condition for the existence of the spin glass phase as an extension of the mean-field theory. In particular, the properties of the so-called replica-symmetric solution are explained in detail for the Sherrington–Kirkpatrick (SK) model.