Investigation of gauge-fixed pure U(1) theory at strong coupling

TL;DR

This paper numerically explores the phase diagram of pure U(1) gauge theory with gauge fixing at strong coupling, revealing a transition that becomes discontinuous and evidence of confinement at high couplings.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the FM-FMD phase transition persists at strong coupling but loses its continuity, providing new insights into the phase structure of lattice U(1) gauge theories.

Findings

FM-FMD transition persists at strong coupling

Transition appears discontinuous at high coupling

Evidence of confinement at large gauge couplings

Abstract

We numerically investigate the phase diagram of pure U(1) gauge theory with gauge fixing at strong gauge coupling. The FM-FMD phase transition, which proved useful in defining Abelian lattice chiral gauge theory, persists also at strong gauge coupling. However, there the transition seems no to be longer continuous. At large gauge couplings we find evidences for confinement.