We investigate the conjecture that monopoles in noncompact lattice QED condense, and that this phase transition is responsible for the breaking of chiral symmetry. The comparison of analytic and numerical results shows that we have a quantitative understanding of monopoles in both the quenched and dynamical cases. We see no evidence of monopole condensation. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

• Received 3 January 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.53.1508