Mean-field theory of temperature cycling experiments in spin-glasses

TL;DR

This paper provides an analytical study of temperature cycling effects in mean-field spin-glasses, revealing reinitialization and memory effects consistent with experiments, and contrasts these with structural glasses where such effects are absent.

Contribution

It offers a theoretical framework for understanding temperature cycling effects in spin-glasses and structural glasses, and proposes new experimental protocols based on derived relations.

Findings

Reinitialization occurs in spin-glasses during temperature decrease.

Memory effects are observed when returning to the original temperature.

Structural glasses do not show reinitialization effects in the model.

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 new experimental protocols. Finally, we briefly discuss the effect of field cyclings during isothermal aging.