Physics (Internal)

Constructing Ultra-Slow Glasses in Lattice Models for Reversible Computing

This event is part of the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Examining Committee: Andrei Ruckenstein, Claudio Chamon, Michael El-Batanouny, Richard Brower

Abstract:

We construct a two-dimensional lattice model that lacks any finite temperature phase transition and yet displays relaxation times that grow as a double exponential of the inverse temperature. The model has bulk translational invariance, only broken by the presence of the boundaries. The lattice model is associated to a reversible circuit that can multiply or factorize integers, depending on the boundary conditions. When the lattice model reaches its ground state, all computations are performed without error. The ultra-slow (double exponential in inverse temperature) glassy dynamics is associated with the difficulty of the system to heal computational errors that cost little energy but flip a volumetric number of bits in the system.