Soft Modes, Localization, and Two-Level Systems in Spin Glasses

Phys Rev Lett. 2015 Dec 31;115(26):267205. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.267205. Epub 2015 Dec 23.

Abstract

In the three-dimensional Heisenberg spin glass in a random field, we study the properties of the inherent structures that are obtained by an instantaneous cooling from infinite temperature. For a not too large field the density of states g(ω) develops localized soft plastic modes and reaches zero as ω(4) (for large fields a gap appears). When we perturb the system adding a force along the softest mode, one reaches very similar minima of the energy, separated by small barriers, that appear to be good candidates for classical two-level systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Glass / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical*