The problem of finding the minimum-energy configuration of particles on a lattice, subject to a generic short-ranged repulsive interaction, is studied analytically. The study is relevant to charge ordered states of interacting fermions, as described by the spinless Falicov-Kimball model. For a range of particle density including the half-filled case, it is shown that the minimum-energy states coincide with the large-U neutral ground state ionic configurations of the Falicov-Kimball model, thus providing a characterization of the latter as ``most homogeneous ionic arrangements. These obey hierarchical rules, leading to a sequence of phases described by the Farey tree. For lower densities, a new family of minimum-energy configurations is found, having the novel property that they are aperiodic even when the particle density is a rational number. In some cases there occurs local phase separation, resulting in an inherent sensitivity of the ground state to the detailed form of the interaction potential.
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