Force between static quarks

We present Monte Carlo results for the force between static quarks, calculated on a large (${16}^3$×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 $\beta$ 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 $\sigma$. We find good agreement with scaling for $\beta \ge 6$, with a ratio between scale parameter $\Lambda$ and $\sqrt{\sigma }$ approximately equal to 9.6 × ${10}^{-3\mathrm{}}$.