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Lost in Normalization

The consequences of the gauge-coupling dependent normalization-factor of $1/g^α$ in the transfer-matrix of 2d U(1) lattice gauge theory are explored. It is seen by the $α=1$ choice that the lowest energy develops a minimum at coupling $g_*=1.125$, leading to a \textit{multi-valued} Gibbs energy similar to the systems with the first-order phase transition. It is argued how the $1/g$ normalization may be regarded as a lost normalization in the commonly used change of variable to the dimensionless angle-variables. Based on the continuum limit at the next-leading order and the Ostrogradsky formulation of higher-order time-derivatives theories, it is argued that the spectrum at continuum is compatible only with the $α=1$ choice.