Unexpected behavior of an order parameter for lattice gauge theories with matter fields

I consider a slightly modified definition of an order parameter that was recently suggested by DeTar and McLerran. It is supposed to test for confinement in lattice gauge theories when arbitrary matter fields are present, at finite physical temperature β-1 > 0. Its definition is quite directly related to confinement in the sense that no physical states with fractional baryon number can be observed. We test the parameter for different ranges of the coupling constants in the Z(2) Higgs model, whose phase structure is well known at zero temperature. It is found that the order parameter always shows the behavior characteristic of confinement, for all values of the coupling constants and arbitrary non-zero temperature. (orig.)