Fixed point action for the massless lattice Schwinger model

We determine non-perturbatively the fixed-point action for fermions in the two-dimensional U(1) gauge (Schwinger) model. This is done by iterating a block spin transformation in the background of non-compact gauge field configurations sampled according to the (perfect) Gaussian measure. The resulting action has 123 independent couplings, is bilinear in the Grassmann fields, gauge invariant by the compact gauge transporters considered, and localized within a 7 x 7 lattice centered around one of the fermions. We then simulate the model at various values of beta and compare with results obtained with the Wilson fermion action. We find excellent improvement for the observables studied (propagators and masses). (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.