Mean-field theory of temperature cycling experiments in spin glasses

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We study analytically the effect of temperature cyclings in mean-field spin glasses. In accordance with real experiments, we obtain a strong reinitialization of the dynamics on decreasing the temperature combined with memory effects when the original high temperature is restored. The same calculation applied to mean-field models of structural glasses shows no such reinitialization, again in accordance with experiments. In this context, we derive some relations between experimentally accessible quantities and propose experimental protocols. Finally, we briefly discuss the effect of field cyclings during isothermal aging.