Topological glass states

Abstract

In connection with recent discussion of topological order and topological phase transitions in quantum systems, we reexamine circumstances that lead to the appearance of a topological glass in certain classical lattice spin models. Local bonding enforces constraints on low energy states which organize themselves into topologically distinct classes that break ergodicity but not any apparent symmetry as in the usual Landau theory of phase transitions. Various properties of such a topological glass are demonstrated using two classical Ising-like models.