SENSITIVITY TO CHANGES IN BOUNDARY-CONDITIONS IN S = 1 ISING SPIN-GLASSES

Transfer-matrix-based calculations of the defect energy in two-dimensi onal S = 1 Ising spin glasses yield a T = 0 exponent y which depends o n the state of the spins at the boundary walls. If the boundary spins are not allowed to be in the zero state, the exponent y agrees with th e value obtained for S = 1/2. Otherwise the exponent is different and S-dependent. We argue that the lower critical dimensionality should no t depend on S. Our results point out the importance of selecting bound ary conditions that capture the physics of the problem.