Journal of Statistical Physics, Vol. 29, No. 4, 1982. p. 717-746.
The random Ising chain is a very simple model with a large number of metastable states. Simple analytical calculation of the relaxation of energy and magnetization is presented. The effect of a nonzero magnetic field is discussed qualitatively. The slow relaxation in this simple model resembles that observed in spin glasses. A weak magnetic field can produce rather strong effects. The magnetization is shown to be a nonanalytic function of the field. The field also greatly alters the metastability characteristics.