Multi-Overlap Simulations of the $3d$ Edwards-Anderson Ising Spin Glass

Abstract

We introduce a novel method for numerical spin glass investigations: Simulations of two replica at fixed temperature, weighted such that a broad distribution of the Parisi overlap parameter $q$ is achieved. Canonical expectation values for the entire $q$-range (multi-overlap) follow by re-weighting. We demonstrate the feasibility of the approach by studying the $3d$ Edwards-Anderson Ising ($J_{ik}=\pm 1$) spin glass in the broken phase ($β=1$). For the first time it becomes possible to obtain reliable results about spin glass tunneling barriers. In addition, as do some earlier numerical studies, our results support that Parisi mean field theory is valid down to $3d$.