Fundamental Matter and the Deconfining Phase Transition in 2+1 D

Abstract

We analyze the effect of heavy fundamentally charged particles on the finite temperature deconfining phase transition in the 2+1 dimensional Georgi-Glashow model. We show that in the presence of fundamental matter the transition turns into a crossover. The near critical theory is mapped onto the 2 dimensional Ising model in an external magnetic field. Using this mapping we determine the width of the crossover region as well as the specific heat as a function of the fundamental mass.

Comments: 7 pp, REVTeX4. Comment and references added (v2)