Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Analyzing Melts and Fluids from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations with the UMD Package
Published on: September 17, 2021
Orientational ordering and correlation in quasi-one-dimensional hard-body fluids due to close-packing degeneracy
Péter Gurin1, Sakineh Mizani2, Szabolcs Varga1
1Physics Department, Centre for Natural Sciences, <a href="https://ror.org/03y5egs41">University of Pannonia</a>, PO Box 158, Veszprém, H-8201 Hungary.
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.
Related Concept Videos
Dimensionless Groups in Fluid Mechanics
First Law: Particles in Two-dimensional Equilibrium
Newton's first law tells us about...
First Law: Particles in One-dimensional Equilibrium
Characteristics of Fluids
Newtonian Fluid: Problem Solving
A velocity gradient forms within the fluid when a Newtonian fluid is placed between two parallel plates, with...
Fluid Mosaic Model

