Aging as dynamics in configuration space

Using molecular dynamics computer simulation we calculate for a simple glas s former e(IS), the energy of the inherent structure, in equilibrium and in the out-of-equilibrium situation. We show that e(IS) can be used to define : for the aging system an effective time-dependent temperature T-e(t). In p articular we demonstrate that during the aging process the system visits at time t configurations which are typical for the equilibrium system at temp erature T-e(t).