The interquark potential, color SU(2)

Including dynamical fermions in the Monte Carlo simulation of SU(2) lattice gauge theory, the authors investigate the potential between static quarks on a 16 * 8/sup 3/ lattice. While for small to medium distances the shape of the potential coincides approximately with the pure gauge field potential, they find indications for a deviation from the linear rise at large distances, expected from a break-up of the flux tube between the heavy quarks through spontaneous creation of light quark pairs. The emerging picture is mutually consistent with results for the quark condensate and meson masses