Wilson loop evaluations in the stochastic vacuum model

Abstract

The stochastic vacuum model description of a heavy meson is discussed in the context of a gauge invariant approach where Wilson loop expectation values appear naturally in the O($v^2$) spin-orbit Hamiltonian. These expectation values have been derived elsewhere, however by a procedure whose legitimacy is now placed in question. Here they are derived by standard functional methods with a result that is identical to the previous one. In addition, a full spin-independent Hamiltonian reduction to O($v^2$) is carried out.