We compute and analyze couples of ground states of three-dimensional (3D) spin glass systems with the same quenched noise but periodic and antiperiodic boundary conditions for different lattice sizes. We discuss the possible different behaviors of the system, and we analyze the average link overlap, the probability distribution of window overlaps (among ground states computed with different boundary conditions), and the spatial overlap and link overlap correlation functions. We establish that the picture based on replica symmetry breaking correctly describes the behavior of 3D spin glasses.

• Received 3 May 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.62.11677