We present a numerical method for the investigation of nonergodic effects in the Coulomb glass. An algorithm is developed to obtain an almost complete set of low-energy many-particle states. The dynamics of the sample is mapped to the graph formed by the relevant transitions between these states, that is, by transitions with rates larger than the inverse of the duration of the measurement. The formation of isolated clusters in the graph indicates nonergodicity. We analyze the connectivity of this graph in dependence on temperature, duration of measurement, degree of disorder, and dimensionality, studying how nonergodicity is reflected in the specific heat.

• Received 5 January 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.62.8030