OPTIMIZATION IN THE EXTENDED VARIATIONAL APPROACH TO SU(2) GAUGE-THEORY ON THE LATTICE

The linear delta expansion is applied to SU(2) gauge theory on the lattice, with a trial action based on single links. In contrast with previous calculations using this action, we use the principle of minimal sensitivity to determine the arbitrary parameter J which occurs in the interpolating action. We obtain a good fit to the Monte Carlo data on the weak-coupling side of the transition region: this can be combined with results using a different trial action to cover the entire range of beta. There is no sign that the procedure fails to converge.