Dynamics and nonequilibrium states in the Hamiltonian mean-field model: A closer look

We critically revisit the evidence for the existence of quasistationary states in the globally coupled [Formula presented] (or Hamiltonian mean-field) model. A slow-relaxation regime at long times is clearly revealed by numerical realizations of the model, but no traces of quasistationarity are found during the earlier stages of the evolution. We point out the nonergodic properties of this system in the short-time range, which makes a standard statistical description unsuitable. New aspects of the evolution during the nonergodic regime, and of the energy distribution function in the final approach to equilibrium, are disclosed. © 2003 The American Physical Society.