Polyakov loop distributions near deconfinement inSU(2) lattice gauge theory

The distribution function of the Polyakov loop is investigated on a 16³×3 lattice in the neighbourhood of the deconfinement transition ofSU(2) gauge theory. We find, that well above the transition the distribution is a Gaussian; when the coupling approaches the critical point it is modified due to phase flip attempts of the system. Corresponding distributions for the plaquettes remain, however, Gaussian. For one coupling close to the transition we study the distributions on 8³, 12³ and 18³×4 lattices and show that strong finite size effects are present. Using the maximum values of the Gaussian parts of the distributions we construct a more physical (and therefore scaling) order parameter whose critical exponent is in excellent agreement with the universality hypothesis.