Phase transition in one-dimensional lattice gauge theories (Q1915369)

One-dimensional nonminimally coupled lattice gauge theories are studied. It is shown that there is a class of nonlocal one-dimensional systems which exhibits a first-order phase transition for properly normalized coupling constants. The author determines a transition temperature above which the pure-gauge interaction of the system is completely eliminated. Below this temperature, the system goes to a nonminimum energy state of the pure-gauge action, and the effects of nonminimality are lost. The one-dimensional systems considered in this paper arise from a general principle (gauge invariance) and possess a certain kind of universality (the main features of the transition do not depend on the specific chosen system).