An N-body simulation approximates a dynamical system by evolving interacting particles. In a collisionless galaxy calculation these particles sample a smooth mass distribution rather than represent individual physical stars. Their larger individual masses enhance artificial two-body relaxation; softening, force accuracy and convergence with particle number must be checked over the intended duration.
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N-body simulation is a computational method used to study and simulate the dynamics of systems with a large number of interacting particles or bodies. In astrophysics, this typically involves celestial bodies such as stars, planets, and galaxies, but the concept can be applied to any system where multiple entities exert gravitational or other forces on each other.