Aging in an infinite-range Hamiltonian system of coupled rotators

We analyze numerically the out-of-equilibrium relaxation dynamics of a long-range Hamiltonian system of N fully coupled rotators. For a particular family of initial conditions, this system is known to enter a particular regime in which the dynamic behavior does not agree with thermodynamic predictions. Moreover, there is evidence that in the thermodynamic limit, when [Formula presented] is taken prior to [Formula presented] the system will never attain true equilibrium. By analyzing the scaling properties of the two-time autocorrelation function we find that, in that regime, a very complex dynamics unfolds, in which aging phenomena appear. The scaling law strongly suggests that the system behaves in a complex way, relaxing towards equilibrium through intricate trajectories. The present results are obtained for conservative dynamics, where there is no thermal bath in contact with the system. © 2003 The American Physical Society.