Aging as dynamics in configuration space

Using molecular dynamics computer simulation we calculate for a simple glass 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 particular we demonstrate that during the aging process the system visits at time t configurations which are typical for the equilibrium system at temperature T-e(t).