Theoretical Physics Colloquium: 50 Years of Spin Glass Theory

14 Nov 2025
Seminars and colloquia
Time
Venue
Lindemann Lecture Theatre
Beecroft Building, Department of Physics, 91̽»¨, Parks Road, 91̽»¨, OX1 3PU
Speaker(s)

Professor David Sherrington, 91̽»¨

Seminar series
Theoretical physics colloquia

Abstract

In 1975, two theoretical papers were published that together sparked major new directions, conceptual, mathematical and practically-applicable, in several previously disparate fields of science. In this short colloquium I shall expose key aspects of the thinking behind those papers, their implementations and their implications, along with sketches of several subsequent and consequential developments and some current personal thoughts.

  1. S.F. Edwards & P. W. Anderson, Theory of Spin glasses: J. Phys. F 5, 965 (1975)
  2. D. Sherrington & S. Kirkpatrick, Solvable model of a spin glass: Phys. Rev. Lett 35, 1792 (1975)
  3. D. Sherrington & S. Kirkpatrick. 50 years of spin glass theory. Nat. Rev. Phys. 7, 528–529 (2025)/ arXiv:2505.24432