Remarks on a compact Abelian Higgs model

Abstract

Aspects of screening and confinement are re-examined for a recently proposed compact Abelian Higgs model with a $\theta$-term. Our discussion is accomplished using the gauge-invariant but path-dependent variables formalism, which is an alternative to the Wilson loop approach. We explicitly show that the static potential profile is the sum of an effective-Yukawa and a linear potential, leading to the confinement of static external charges. We point out the central r\^ole of the parameter measuring the stiffness of the vortex lines present in the model in both the Yukawa-like and the confining sectors of the effective inter-particle potential we have computed.