The Two-Loop Static Potential

TL;DR

This paper calculates the two-loop correction to the static quark-antiquark potential in QCD, providing a more accurate perturbative result up to the point where the expansion becomes unreliable.

Contribution

It corrects previous two-loop calculations of the static potential in QCD and clarifies the limitations of perturbative methods at higher orders.

Findings

Calculated the full two-loop coefficient of the static potential

Corrected earlier results in the literature

Identified the breakdown point of perturbative expansion

Abstract

In quantum chromodynamics (QCD), the binding energy of an infinitely heavy quark--antiquark pair in a color singlet state can be calculated as a function of the distance. We investigate this static potential of QCD perturbatively and calculate the full two-loop coefficient, correcting an earlier result. Beyond this order, the perturbative expansion breaks down.