On the replica method for glassy systems

Abstract
In this talk we review our theoretical understanding of spin glasses paying a particular attention to the basic physical ideas. We introduce the replica method and we describe its probabilistic consequences (we stress the recently discovered importance of stochastic stability). We show that the replica method is not restricted to systems with quenched disorder. We present the consequences on the dynamics of the system when it slows approaches equilibrium are presented : they are confirmed by large scale simulations, while we are still awaiting for a direct experimental verification.