Chiral phase transition in a lattice fermion--gauge--scalar model with U(1) gauge symmetry

The chiral phase transition induced by a charged scalar field is investigated numerically in a lattice fermion-gauge-scalar model with U(1) gauge symmetry, proposed recently as a model for dynamical fermion mass generation. For very strong gauge coupling the transition is of second order and its scaling properties are very similar to those of the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. However, in the vicinity of the tricritical point at somewhat weaker coupling, where the transition changes the order, the scaling behavior is different. Therefore it is worthwhile to investigate the continuum limit of the model at this point.