On the order of the finite temperature deconfinement phase transition in Z(2) and Z(3) lattice gauge theories

Using Monte Carlo methods, we show that the finite temperature deconfinement phase transition in Z(3) lattice gauge theory is of first order by presenting evidence for the coexistence of the two phases in the transition region. A similar study for the Z(2) theory, however, failed to yield any such evidence, thus indicating the corresponding transition to be of higher order