Colour octet potential to three loops

TL;DR

This paper calculates the three-loop potential between two static sources in the colour octet state, addressing technical challenges related to pinch contributions using two different reduction methods.

Contribution

It provides a detailed three-loop calculation of the colour octet potential, introducing methods to handle pinch contributions more effectively.

Findings

Computed the three-loop colour octet potential.

Developed two methods to simplify pinch contribution evaluations.

Enhanced understanding of static source interactions in QCD.

Abstract

We consider the interaction between two static sources in the colour octet configuration and compute the potential to three loops. Special emphasis is put on the treatment of pinch contributions and two methods are applied to reduce their evaluation to diagrams without pinches.