THE 2-DIMENSIONAL O(2) MODEL ON A RANDOM PLANAR LATTICE AT STRONG-COUPLING

The large spacing phase of the infinite random matrix chain, which rep resents the strongly coupled two-dimensional O(2) model on a random pl anar lattice, is explored. A class of solutions valid for large lattic e spacings is constructed. It is proved that these solutions exhibit t he critical exponents characteristic of pure two-dimensional gravity. The character expansion for the chain model is developed and an order parameter governing the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition is identi fied. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.