k-string tensions in SU(N) gauge theories

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  • 13 July 2001
Abstract
In the context of four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories, we study the spectrum of the confining strings. We compute, for the SU(6) gauge theory formulated on a lattice, the three independent string tensions sigma_k related to sources with Z_N charge k=1,2,3, using Monte Carlo simulations. Our results support the sine formula sigma_k / sigma = sin(k pi/N) / sin(pi/N) for the ratio between sigma_k and the standard string tension sigma (with an uncertainty of approximately 2% for k=2 and 4% for k=3), and are in contradiction with the hypothesis of Casimir scaling. The sine formula is known to emerge in supersymmetric SU(N) gauge theories and in M-theory. We also comment on an analogous behavior exhibited by two-dimensional SU(N) X SU(N) chiral models.

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