A field-theoretical approach to the spin glass transition: models with long but finite interaction range

Silvio Franz, Fabio Lucio Toninelli

Published 2004-08-12, updated 2005-01-31Version 2

We study spin glasses with Kac type interaction potential for small but finite inverse interaction range $\gamma$. Using the theoretical setup of coupled replicas, through the replica method we argue that the probability of overlap profiles can be expressed for small $\gamma$ through a large-deviation functional. This result is supported by rigorous arguments, showing that the large-deviation functional provides at least upper bounds for the probability. Finally we analyze the rate function, in the vicinity of the critical point $T_c=1$ of mean field theory, and we study the free energy cost of overlap interfaces, assuming the validity of a gradient expansion for the rate functional.