Three-dimensional simplicial gravity and degenerate triangulations

I define a model of three-dimensional simplicial gravity using an extended ensemble of triangulations where, in addition to the usual combinatorial tr iangulations, I allow degenerate triangulations, i.e. triangulations with d istinct simplices defined by the same set of vertices. I demonstrate, using numerical simulations, that allowing for this type of degeneracy substanti ally reduces the geometric finite-size effects, especially in the crumpled phase of the model; in other respects the phase structure of the model is n ot affected. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B,V.