Abstract
We study the orientational ordering properties of some quasi-one-dimensional hard-body fluids, where the anisotropic particles are confined to a straight line, while they are free to rotate in a plane. We examine a class of models where the close-packing structure is degenerate, i.e., the highest possible density can be realized with different orientational ordering. We find that the close-packing degeneracy always gives rise to a diverging orientational correlation, which can be a marker of phase transition, glass formation, and jamming. In the case of isotropic or partially ordered phases at the close-packing density, the diverging orientational correlation indicates a tendency for being a strongly ordered nematic phase. However, the orientational divergence in the perfect nematic phase shows that the particles must rotate in concert to go from one closely packed structure to another.
Published Version
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