Charge screening and confinement in the massive Schwinger model

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the massive Schwinger model using Euclidean path integrals and mass perturbation theory to study charge screening and confinement, revealing that integer charges are screened while noninteger charges experience a long-range force.

Contribution

It provides a detailed computation of the Wilson loop in the massive Schwinger model, demonstrating charge screening and confinement properties at arbitrary order in mass perturbation theory.

Findings

Integer external charges are fully screened.

Noninteger charges experience a persistent long-range force.

Charge screening depends on the charge being an integer.

Abstract

Within the framework of Euclidean path integral and mass perturbation theory we compute the Wilson loop of widely separated external charges for the massive Schwinger model. From this result we show for arbitrary order mass perturbation theory that integer external charges are completely screened, whereas for noninteger charges a constant long-range force remains.