Interface free energies in p-spin glass models

TL;DR

This paper uses the replica method to analyze interface free energies in finite-dimensional p-spin glass models, showing that 1RSB states are unstable in finite dimensions due to thermal excitations, impacting glass theory.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the interface free energy in finite-dimensional p-spin models is exponentially small, indicating the non-existence of 1RSB states in finite dimensions.

Findings

Interface free energy is exponentially small in finite dimensions.

1RSB states are destroyed by thermal excitations.

Implications for structural glass theory are discussed.

Abstract

The replica method has been used to calculate the interface free energy associated with the change from periodic to anti-periodic boundary conditions in finite-dimensional p-spin glass models in the phase which at mean-field level has one-step replica symmetry breaking (1RSB). In any finite dimension the interface free energy is exponentially small for a large system. This result implies that in finite dimensions, the 1RSB state does not exist, as it is destroyed by thermal excitation of arbitrarily large droplets. The implications of this for the theory of structural glasses are discussed.