PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN SO(3) LATTICE GAUGE-THEORY

The phase diagram of SO(3) lattice gauge theory is investigated by Mon te Carlo techniques on both symmetric N-sigma(4), and asymmetric N(sig ma)(3)xN(beta) lattices with a view (i) to understanding the relations hip between the bulk transition and the deconfinement transition, and (ii) to resolving the current ambiguity about the nature of the high t emperature phase. A number of tests, including an introduction of a ma gnetic field and measurement of different correlation functions in the phases with positive and negative values for the adjoint Polyakov lin e, L-a, lead to the conclusion that the two phases correspond to the s ame physical state. Studies on lattices of different sizes reveal only one phase transition for this theory on all of them and it appears to have a deconfining nature.