QCD, relativistic flux tubes, and potential models

Abstract

Relativistic spin-independent corrections to the confinement of heavy quarks are examined. A comparison is made between QCD, a QCD-motivated model, and the predictions of scalar confinement. We find that a linearly confining Lorentz-scalar potential is inconsistent with QCD but that the relativistic flux-tube model is consistent with QCD. The relativistic corrections are identified with the rotational energy of the flux tube.