FIXED BOUNDARY-CONDITIONS AND PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN PURE GAUGE COMPACT QED

We have simulated the pure gauge compact QED with fixed boundary conditions, on lattices from 6(4) to 16(4). We argue that a lattice with this fixed boundary imposition corresponds actually to a lattice with spherical topology. We have found the presence of a phase transition without any trace of discontinuity. Moreover, the specific heat and the Binder cumulant are qualitatively consistent with a second order phase transition. The implications of this observation on the nature of the compact lattice QED are discussed.