The role of temperature in a dimensional approach to QCD3 Original Research Article

We analyze the role played by temperature in QCD3 by means of a dimensional interpolating approach. Pure gauge QCD3 is defined on a strip of finite width L, which acts as an interpolating parameter between two and three dimensions. A two-dimensional effective theory can be constructed for small enough widths giving the same longitudinal physics as QCD3. Explicit calculations of T-dependent QCD3 observables can thus be performed. The generation of a deconfining phase transition, absent in QCD2, is proven through an exact calculation of the electric or Debye mass at high T. Low- and high-T behaviors of relevant thermodynamic functions are also worked out. An accurate estimate of the critical temperature is given and its evolution with L is studied in detail.