Critical behavior of 3D Z(N)Z(N) lattice gauge theories at zero temperature
Three-dimensional Z(N)Z(N) lattice gauge theories at zero temperature are studied for various values of N . Using a modified phenomenological renormalization group, we explore the critical behavior of the generalized Z(N)Z(N) model for N=2,3,4,5,6,8N=2,3,4,5,6,8. Numerical computations are used to simulate vector models for N=2,3,4,5,6,8,13,20N=2,3,4,5,6,8,13,20 for lattices with linear extension up to L=96L=96. We locate the critical points of phase transitions and establish their scaling with N . The values of the critical indices indicate that the models with N>4N>4 belong to the universality class of the three-dimensional XY model. However, the exponent α derived from the heat capacity is consistent with the Ising universality class. We discuss a possible resolution of this puzzle. ; The work of Ukrainian coauthors was supported by the Ukrainian State Fundfor Fundamenta. Researches under the grant F58/384-2013. Numerical simulations have been partly carrie douton Ukrainian National GRID facilities. The work of G.C. was supported in part by the European Union under ITNSTRONG net (grantPITN-GA-2009-238353). ; Peer reviewed