Finite size scaling analysis of compact QED

TL;DR

This paper presents a high-statistics finite size scaling analysis of 4d compact U(1) lattice gauge theory, providing evidence for a first-order phase transition through extensive Monte Carlo simulations and analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed finite size scaling analysis using a multicanonical hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm to study phase transitions in 4d compact U(1) lattice gauge theory.

Findings

Evidence for a first-order phase transition with a plaquette energy gap

Transition coupling determined as beta_T=1.011128(11)

High-statistics data with over 150 tunneling events on large lattices

Abstract

We describe results of a high-statistics finite size scaling analysis of 4d compact U(1) lattice gauge theory with Wilson action at the phase transition point. Using a multicanonical hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm we generate data samples with more than 150 tunneling events between the metastable states of the system, on lattice sizes up to 18^4. We performed a first analysis within the Borgs-Kotecky finite size scaling scheme. As a result, we report evidence for a first-order phase transition with a plaquette energy gap, G=0.02667(20), at a transition coupling, beta_T=1.011128(11).