Aging phenomena in complex systems have been used as an important tool to investigate the physics of complexity. Physical aging effects has been observed in polymers, colloidal gels, molecular glasses, spin glasses and glass systems. Recent theoretical progress suggests that there may be a universal phenomenology underlying the aging physics in this diverse group of materials. Experimentally, we recently have made significant progress in understanding the structure of long time dynamics in complex systems. We intend to pursue a deeper understanding of these discoveries on a macroscopic scale utilizing the PPMS as well as on a microscopic scale using SP-STM.
Neural network algorithims based on interactions between individual neurons in the brain have many of the same characteristics as magnetic interactions in a disordered state of matter called spin glasses. A long term goal of ours is to investigate the possibility of developing materials which mimic associated memory processes of the brain.