the $q$ ground states. As for the $q=2$ case, the phase transition point $\lambda_c(D)$ is estimated with increasing truncation dimension $D$. Fig. \[fig2\](a) shows the amplitude of the local order parameter $\langle M_{x,1}\rangle$ for the 3-state Potts model. This plot shows a jump in the curve which indicates a possible discontinuous phase transition point. The successive estimates for $\lambda_c$ are given in Table I [@ZN]. This same type of discontinuous behavior is seen for the local order parameter $\langle M_{x,1}\rangle$ in Fig. \[fig2\](b) for $q=4$ and Fig. \[fig2\](c) for $q=5$. The successive estimates for $\lambda_c$ are given in Table I.

The GE of the ground states is also shown in Fig. \[fig2\]. For each of the values of $q$, a maximal value is detected for the GE curve, where a jump also occurs. The estimates for the transition points $\lambda_c$ are well matched with those obtained via the local order parameters and also via the observed multi-bifurcation points in the magnetization [@dyw]. It is clear that the measure of GE can distinguish between discontinuous and continuous phase transitions in the 2D quantum $q$-state Potts model. To further test the utility of this approach we turn now to the investigation of 