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Festkörperprobleme 25 pp 53Cite as

Statistical mechanics of disorder and applications to complex problems

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Part of the book series: Advances in Solid State Physics ((ASSP,volume 25))

Abstract

The statistical mechanics of disorder thas been confronted with problems which often have many metastable states, i.e. many valleys in their configuration space. The archetype for such systems is the spin glass, for which a complete physical description is now emerging. Meanwhile, it has been recognized by S. Kirkpatrick that a number of optimization problems (an archetype is the traveling salesman problem) have several features in common with spin glasses. Consequently, the tools of statistical mechanics are presently used to study various complex problems, in engineering and biology. A review of conceptual advances, practical applications, and open questions will be given.

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  1. E.S.P.C.I., 10 rue Vauquelin, F-75231, Paris, France

    Gérard Toulouse

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  1. Gérard Toulouse
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P. Grosse

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© 1985 Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH

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Toulouse, G. (1985). Statistical mechanics of disorder and applications to complex problems. In: Grosse, P. (eds) Festkörperprobleme 25. Advances in Solid State Physics, vol 25. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0108125

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0108125

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-528-08031-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-75361-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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