On the dynamic mean field theory of spin glasses

Abstract

We derive in detail Sompolinsky's mean field theory of spin glasses using a diagram expansion of the effective local Langevin equation of Sompolinsky and Zippelius. We use a simpler generating functional than in the literature, on which the quenched average is very easily done. We pay special attention to the existence of an external field. We show that there are two different types of singularities for ω=0 in the equations. The first type, which leads to Parisi'sq(0), is connected with the local magnetisation. The second type, which leads toq′(x), is connected with the nonergodic behaviour. We show that the continuous limit of discrete Sompolinsky solutions has to be taken in order to be in accordance with the fluctuation dissipation theorem on infinite time scales. We discuss carefully the question of dynamical stability. We show that Sommers' solution is unstable only on an infinite time scale and thus remains an acceptable equilibrium theory with a broken symmetry. We argue that for ω=0 a formal violation of the fluctuation dissipation theorem is physically expected if the relaxation times are of the order of the switching time of the external field. From this point of view the spin-glass state is a steady state but not a real equilibrium state.