2 PHASES FOR COMPACT U(1) PURE GAUGE-THEORY IN 3 DIMENSIONS

We show that if actions more general than the usual simple plaquette a ction (similar to F-mu nu(2)) are considered, then compact U(1)pure ga uge theory in three Euclidean dimensions can have two phases. Both pha ses are confining phases; however, in one phase the monopole condensat e spontaneously ''magnetizes.'' For a certain range of parameters the phase transition is continuous, allowing the definition of a strong co upling continuum limit. We note that these observations have relevance to the ''fictitious'' gauge field theories of strongly correlated ele ctron systems, such as those describing high-T-c superconductors.