Equipartition and Mass Segregation in a One-Dimensional Self-Gravitating System

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Abstract
The simplest model for studying N-body gravitational interactions is the one-dimensional system consisting of parallel mass sheets [one-dimensional self-gravitating system (OGS)]. The model has been used often to test theories of gravitational evolution. Here we demonstrate that a two mass-component OGS with initial conditions selected far from equilibrium attains both mass segregation and equipartition of energy in a long, but finite, time. This may be the first clear evidence of the approach to thermal equilibrium in this type of system. The implications of these findings as well as future investigations are discussed.