Spin Glasses and Complexity

Daniel L. Stein; Charles M. Newman

Daniel L. Stein and Charles M. Newman

Spin Glasses and Complexity

In: Primers in Complex Systems, 4

Princeton University Press | 2013

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400845637

Overview
Contents

About this book

Spin glasses are disordered magnetic systems that have led to the development of mathematical tools with an array of real-world applications, from airline scheduling to neural networks. Spin Glasses and Complexity offers the most concise, engaging, and accessible introduction to the subject, fully explaining what spin glasses are, why they are important, and how they are opening up new ways of thinking about complexity.

This one-of-a-kind guide to spin glasses begins by explaining the fundamentals of order and symmetry in condensed matter physics and how spin glasses fit into--and modify--this framework. It then explores how spin-glass concepts and ideas have found applications in areas as diverse as computational complexity, biological and artificial neural networks, protein folding, immune response maturation, combinatorial optimization, and social network modeling.

Providing an essential overview of the history, science, and growing significance of this exciting field, Spin Glasses and Complexity also features a forward-looking discussion of what spin glasses may teach us in the future about complex systems. This is a must-have book for students and practitioners in the natural and social sciences, with new material even for the experts.

Author information

Daniel L. Stein is professor of physics and mathematics at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. His books include Spin Glasses and Biology. Charles M. Newman is professor of mathematics at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and at the University of California, Irvine. His books include Topics in Disordered Systems.

Reviews

[T]he work is well presented and the reader will surely find it both inspiring and interesting.---Marco Castrillon Lopez, European Mathematical Society

The challenge that Stein and Newman faced in creating this book . . . was to write for a broad range of readers and still offer interesting depth. As they state in the preface, they are aiming for a reading level that is between Scientific American and research journals. This reviewer believes they have succeeded. . . . Stein and Newman write well and keep the mathematics to a minimum.

[A] surprisingly broad field of view is visible through the lens of the classical, equilibrium using spin glass and the authors are able to use it to explore many fascinating topics. Stein and Newman have written an excellent introduction to the field of spin glasses and the many ramifications of spin glass theory outside of condensed matter physics and statistical mechanics. Experts and novices alike will find this book interesting and useful.---Jonathan Machta, Journal of Statistical Physics

"This excellent book fills a unique and valuable niche. It is a great introduction to some fascinating physics, emphasizing the fundamental concepts and the connections to other complex systems. There are lots of technical volumes on spin glasses, but no other book works at this nonmathematical level, certainly not while still being so accurate and insightful."—Cosma Shalizi, Carnegie Mellon University

"This primer builds the theory of spin glasses, starting with the real physical systems and experiments that inspired the theory. Stein and Newman work hard to make this material accessible to nonphysicists, and they write in an entertaining and friendly way. Even as a physicist I learned a fair amount."—Cris Moore, Santa Fe Institute

Well presented and the reader will surely find it both inspiring and interesting.---Marco Castrillon Lopez, European Mathematical Society

Spin Glasses and Complexity is not a journalistic book that merely reports on the subject. Based on profound mathematical insights, here distilled into an incisive presentation, it represents the fruit of the lifelong commitments two experts have made to spin-glass theory within and beyond physics. . . . Spin Glasses and Complexity is unique in successfully bringing this thrilling theme to a broader scientific audience.---Stefan Boettcher, Physics Today

Frontmatter Free access PDF PDF	i
CONTENTS Free access PDF PDF	vii
PREFACE Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	xi
INTRODUCTION : WHY SPIN GLASSES? Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	1
1. ORDER, SYMMETRY, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF MATTER Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	15
2. GLASSES AND QUENCHED DISORDER Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	43
3. MAGNETIC SYSTEMS Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	51
4. SPINGLASSES : GENERAL FEATURES Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	63
5. THE INFINITE - RANGE SPIN GLASS Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	90
6. APPLICATIONS TO OTHER FIELDS Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	112
7. SHORT-RANGE SPIN GLASSES : SOME BASIC QUESTIONS Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	175
8. ARE SPIN GLASSES COMPLEX SYSTEMS? Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	218
NOTES Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	239
GLOSSARY Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	265
BIBLIOGRAPHY Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	285
INDEX Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	309

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Spin Glasses and Complexity

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