Force between static quarks

We present Monte Carlo results for the force between static quarks, calculated on a large (16³×{}32) lattice. A simulation with high statistics allows us to compute expectation values for loop factors of size up to 8×{}8 at several values of β in the transition region. Values and errors are tabulated; a fitting procedure is then used to evaluate the force between static quarks and, in particular, its asymptotic limit, i.e., the string tension σ. We find good agreement with scaling for β≥6, with a ratio between scale parameter Λ and √σ approximately equal to 9.6 ×{} 10^-3.