Scale Determination Using the Static Potential with Two Dynamical Quark Flavors

Abstract

We study the static potential using gauge configurations that include the effects of two flavors of dynamical Kogut-Susskind quarks. The configurations, generated by the MILC collaboration, and used to study the spectrum and heavy-light decay constants, cover a range $5.3 \le 6/g^2 \le 5.6$. There are at least four quark masses for each coupling studied. Determination of $r_0$ from the potential can be used to set a scale. This alternative scale is useful to study systematic errors on the spectrum and decay constants.