Computing the number of metastable states in infinite-range models

Abstract

In these notes I will review the results that have been obtained in these last years on the computation of the number of metastable states in infinite-range models of disordered systems. This is a particular case of the problem of computing the exponentially large number of stationary points of a random function. Quite surprisingly supersymmetry plays a crucial role in this problem. A careful analysis of the physical implication of supersymmetry and of supersymmetry breaking will be presented: the most spectacular one is that in the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model for spin glasses most of the stationary points are saddles, as predicted long time ago.

Les houches lectures summer 2005, 22 pages