QCD color interactions between two quarks

Abstract

We study the QCD color interactions between static two heavy quarks at zero temperature in a quenched SU(3) lattice gauge simulation: in addition to the standard singlet $q\bar{q}$ potentials, we calculate octet $q\bar{q}$ potentials, symmetric and antisymmetric $qq$ potentials. It is shown that the antisymmetric $qq$ channel behaves as a linearly rising potential at large quark separations. We further find that the $q\bar{q}$ octet and $qq$ symmetric channels have the complex dependence on the distance; at short distances they are repulsive forces, while at large distances, they show linearly rising feature. Ratio of string tensions between $q\bar{q}$ singlet and $qq$ antisymmetric potentials is described in terms of the Casimir factor.