Bond-angular order in two-dimensional Lennard-Jones and hard-disk systems

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Abstract
As a new probe of the nature of the two-dimensional melting transition, a Monte Carlo study of nearest-neighbor bond-angular susceptibility on various length scales has been performed. This probe has been used to distinguish between a hexatic phase and a two-phase region. We conclude that the melting transition of both the low-density Lennard-Jones potential system and the hard-disk system is first order in these finite simulations. No qualitative difference in behavior between the two systems was observed.