Hysteresis in the T=0 random-field Ising model: beyond metastable dynamics.

We present a numerical study of the zero-temperature response of the Gaussian random-field Ising model to a slowly varying external field, allowing the system to be trapped in microscopic configurations that are not fully metastable. This modification of the standard single-spin-flip dynamics results in an increase in dissipation (hysteresis) somewhat similar to that observed with a finite driving rate. We then study the distribution of avalanches along the hysteresis loop and perform a finite-size scaling analysis that shows good evidence that the critical exponents associated to the disorder-induced phase transition are not modified.