Kosterlitz-Thouless transition for the finite-temperatured=2+1,U(1) Hamiltonian lattice gauge theory

We prove that in thed=2+1,U(1) Hamiltonian (continuous time) lattice gauge theory the confining potential between two static external charges grows logarithmically with their distance, at sufficiently high temperatures. As it is known that for zero or low temperatures and large coupling constant the model confines linearly, we have therefore established the existence of a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. Our results are based on a Mermin-Wagner type of argument combined with correlation inequalities and known results for the two-dimensional (spin) Villain model.