Dynamics of spin glasses in two dimensions

Abstract

Spin glass dynamics is a strong function of spatial dimensionality $D$. The lower critical dimension is close to 2.5, so that, in two dimensions, the condensation temperature $T_{\text{g}}=0$, and only fluctuations are present at finite temperatures. However, by using thin film multilayers, one can explore the dynamics in both $D=3$ and $D=2$ dimensions. Spin glass thin film multilayers transition from $D=3$ dynamics at short to intermediate times to $D=2$ dynamics at long times. Correlation lengths of CuMn 4.5 nm multilayers at long times are shown to be grow more rapidly in $D=2$ as compared to $D=3$, and for the longest measurement time, experimentally reach equilibrium in qualitative agreement with simulations.