Self-consistent theory of compact QED3 with relativistic fermions Original Research Article

We consider three-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (cQED3) with massless relativistic fermions coupled to a compact gauge field using a combined perturbative variational approach. Coupling to matter renders the bare interaction between magnetic monopoles logarithmic at large distances, suggesting the possibility of a confinement–deconfinement transition of the Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless type in the theory. Our self-consistent calculation suggests, however, that screening effects always destabilise the confined phase, in agreement with the previous renormalisation group study of the same model.