Are disordered spin glass models relevant for the structural glass problem?

Abstract

Possible connections between theories for the structural glass (STG) transition and the spin glass (SG) transition in SG models without reflection symmetry are discussed. It is pointed out that dynamical theories for mean field versions of these SG models are structurally identical to the mode coupling theory of the STG transition. It is further noted that static theories of these SG models have some features in common with the Gibbs-Di Marzio picture of the STG transition. The static theory also allows for a description of the important metastable states near the glass transition. The role of quenched disorder in the SG models is also discussed. Recent work arguing that its presence in these spin models is not in general important for the behavior they exhibit is reviewed.