2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/47855The time evolution of the correlation functions of an ensemble of anharmonic N-component oscillators with O(N) symmetry is described by a flow equation, exact up to corrections of order $1/N^2$. We find effective irreversibility. Nevertheless, analytical and numerical investigation reveals that the system does not reach thermal equilibrium for large times, even when $N\to \infty$. Depending on the initial distribution, the dynamics is asymptotically stable or it exhibits growing modes which break the conditions for the validity of the 1/N expansion for large time. We investigate both classical and quantum systems, the latter being the limit of an O(N) symmetric scalar quantum field theory in zero spatial dimensions.4 pages, 4 figures, RevTex, revised versionHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyAstrophysicsCondensed MatterHigh Energy Physics - TheoryQuantum Physicstext