On Casimir scaling in QCD

Abstract

Recent lattice calculations have confirmed that QCD static potential for sources in different representations of the gauge group is proportional to eigenvalue of the corresponding quadratic Casimir operator with an accuracy of a few percents. We review the present theoretical status of the "Casimir scaling" phenomenon and stress its importance for analysis of nonperturbative QCD vacuum models and other field theories. It is argued that Casimir scaling strongly advocates the property of Gaussian dominance and we propose different lattice tests to improve our understanding of these phenomena.