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arXiv · 1004.0257

Glassy dynamics in thermally-activated list sorting

Ling-Nan Zou·Sidney R. Nagel
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Abstract

Sorting the integers 1 through $N$ into an ordered list is a simple task that can be done rapidly. However, using an algorithm based on the thermally-activated pairwise exchanges of neighboring list elements, we find sorting can display many features of a glass, even for lists as small as $N = 5$. This includes memory and rejuvenation effects during aging --- two hallmarks of glassy dynamics that have been difficult to reproduce in standard glass simulations.

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Ling-Nan Zou, Sidney R. Nagel. 2010-04-01. Glassy dynamics in thermally-activated list sorting. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.104.257201

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