Thermal properties of quantum electrodynamics in 2+1 dimensions and confinement

The thermal properties of quantum electrodynamics in 2+1 dimensions are studied. The infrared divergences of the thermodynamic variables resulting from the long-range interaction that ensures confinement are eliminated by using a skeleton perturbation theory that takes into account screening. This leads to the appearance of a nonanalyticity of the form $g^2\ln g^2$. The polarization operator, thermodynamic potential, and fermion self-energy are investigated. The obtained results are used to discuss the possible absence of deconfinement.