Do cylinders exhibit a cubatic phase?

Abstract

We investigate the possibility that freely rotating cylinders with an aspect ratio $L/D=0.9$ exhibit a cubatic phase similar to the one found for a system of cut-spheres. We present theoretical arguments why a cubatic phase might occur in this particular system. Monte Carlo simulations do not confirm the existence of a cubatic phase for cylinders. However, they do reveal an unexpected phase behavior between the isotropic and crystalline phase.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures, RevTex (Submitted to J. Chem. Phys.