Relationship between collision and relaxation

[Astroiaco]

Can someone explain me (even in poor worda) the relationship between collision and relaxation? I mean, a structure is relaxed when the particles (or stars) inside have frequent collisions? Or not?An elliptical galaxy is a relaxed structure. Can i deacribe the internal stars with a maxwell-boltzmann velocity distribution? I know it is a general question but i want a general answer too. Thanks

 

[HallsofIvy]

I am afraid you will have to explain what you mean by "relaxed structure" here.