Are there short distance non-perturbative contributions to the QCD static potential?

TL;DR

This paper investigates the limitations of perturbation theory in describing the short-range static potential in QCD, revealing significant non-perturbative contributions at distances greater than 1/(6 GeV).

Contribution

It demonstrates that non-perturbative effects are substantial at short distances, challenging the adequacy of perturbation theory in this regime.

Findings

Perturbation theory fails for r > 1/(6 GeV) in static potential.

Non-perturbative potential differs from perturbative predictions by a linear term.

The linear term has a slope of approximately 1.2 GeV^2, exceeding the string tension.

Abstract

We find that perturbation theory fails to describe the short range static potential as obtained from quenched lattice simulations, at least for source separations r > 1/(6 GeV). The difference between the non-perturbatively determined potential and perturbation theory at short distance is well parameterised by a linear term with a slope of approximately 1.2 GeV^2 that is significantly bigger than the string tension, sigma = 0.21 GeV^2