Critical or tricritical point in mixed-action image lattice gauge theory? Original Research Article

An analysis of scaling along the first-order bulk transition line in fundamental-adjoint image lattice gauge theory strongly supports the first-order endpoint being a tricritical point, and is inconsistent with it being an ordinary critical point as is usually assumed. If tricritical, the transition must continue from the endpoint further into the phase diagram as a second-order bulk transition and extend to and beyond the Wilson axis. Observations indicate that this is most likely the same transition that has been traditionally considered a finite-temperature transition.