Monte Carlo simulation of the three dimensional Thirring model

We study the Thining model in three spacetime dimensions, by means of Monte Carlo simulation on lattice sizes 8(3) and 12(3), for numbers of Fermion flavors N-f = 2, 4, 6. For sufficiently strong interaction strength, we find that spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking occurs for N-f = 2,4, in accordance with the predictions of the Schwinger-Dyson approach. The phase transitions which occur are continuous and with critical scaling behaviour depending on N-f. For N-f = 6 our results are preliminary, and no firm conclusions about the existence or otherwise of chiral symmetry breaking are possible.