Age reinitialization in hierarchical relaxation models for spin-glass dynamics

¹ Institut für Physik, Technische Universität - D-09107 Chemnitz, Germany
² Fysisk Institut, Odense Universitet - Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark

Received: 23 October 1996
Accepted: 9 May 1997

Abstract

We show that thermal relaxation on a tree structure is reinitialized by a temperature pulse, similarly to the experimental behavior of spin-glasses. The models' behavior originates from fast dynamical modes being excited — a mechanism which goes beyond the usual quasi-equilibrium description of slow relaxation based on the concept of a free-energy landscape. We demonstrate the excellent agreement of the model predictions with the thermoremanent magnetization experiments and discuss some of the implications of the results for the understanding of complex relaxation.