A new universality for random sequential deposition of needles

Percolation and jamming phenomena are investigated for random sequential deposition of rectangular needles on d=2 square lattices. Associated thresholds and are determined for various needle sizes. Their ratios are found to be a constant for all sizes. In addition the ratio of jamming thresholds for respectively square blocks and needles is also found to be a constant . These constants exhibit some universal connexion in the geometry of jamming and percolation for both anisotropic shapes (needles versus square lattices) and isotropic shapes (square blocks on square lattices). A universal empirical law is proposed for all three thresholds as a function of a. Received 27 January 2000 and Received in final form 2 February 2000