Monte Carlo simulation of the three dimensional Thirring model

We study the Thirring model in three spacetime dimensions, by means of Monte Carlo simulation on lattice sizes 83 and 123, for number of Fermion flavors NF = 2, 4, 6. For sufficiently strong interaction strength, we find that spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking occurs for NF = 2, 4, in accordance with the predictions of the Schwinger-Dyson approach. The phase transitions which occur are continuous and with critical scaling behaviour depending on NF. For NF = 6 our results are preliminary, and no firm conclusions about the existence or otherwise of chiral symmetry breaking are possible.