A self-averaging ``order parameter'' for the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin glass model (Q2501501)

The authors develop a self-averaging order parameter for the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model which is zero at high temperatures, in the paramagnetic phase, and non-zero at low temperatures, in the spin-glass phase. The construction is based on an extension of ideas of Griffiths and the reviewer, and uses the recent work of Guerra and Toninelli. As much of the literature, based on Parisi's approach, suggests that ``the order parameter is non-self-averaging'', it is useful to point out that without qualifications such a statement is actually incorrect. It would be interesting to know if the proposed order parameter coincides with the maximum value of the support of the Parisi order parameter distribution.