Monte Carlo evaluation of the interquark potential

The values of Wilson loops measured in Monte Carlo simulations of SU(2) lattice gauge theories are used to calculate the interquark potential over a wide range of $q\overline{q}$ separation. Perturbation theory is used to predict the ratio between ${\Lambda }_{\mathrm{pot}}$, the scale characterizing the short-distance behavior of the potential, and the lattice parameter ${\Lambda }_0$. The value of ${\Lambda }_{\mathrm{pot}}$ determined from lattice measurements is found to be in excellent agreement with the prediction.