From screening to confinement in a Higgs-like model

We investigate a recently proposed Higgs-like model (arXiv:0811.4423 [hep-th]), in the framework of a gauge-invariant but path-dependent variables formalism. We compute the static potential between test charges in a condensate of scalars and fermions. In the case of charged massive scalar we recover the screening potential. On the other hand, in the Higgs case, with a "tachyonic" mass term and a quartic potential in the Lagrangian, unexpected features are found. It is observed that the interaction energy is the sum of an effective-Yukawa and a linear potential, leading to the confinement of static charges.Comment: 14 pages, no figures. Inserted 2 new references and comments about the short-distance physical cut-off. Final version accepted for publication in PL

On condensation of charged scalars in D=3 dimensions

By using the gauge-invariant, but path-dependent, variables formalism, we study the impact of condensates on physical observables for a three-dimensional Higgs-like model. As a result, for the case of a physical mass term like $m_H^2 \phi ^ * \phi$, we recover a screening potential. Interestingly enough, in the case of a "wrong-sign" mass term $- m_H^2 \phi ^ * \phi$, unexpected features are found. It is shown that the interaction energy is the sum of an effective-Bessel and a linear potential, leading to the confinement of static charges. However, when a Chern-Simons term is included, the surprising result is that the theory describes an exactly screening phase.Comment: 13 page

Duality and confinement in D=3 models driven by condensation of topological defects

We study the interplay of duality and confinement in certain three-dimensional models induced by the condensation of topological defects. To this end we check for the confinement phenomenon, in both sides of the duality, using the static quantum potential within the framework of the gauge-invariant but path-dependent variables formalism. Our calculations show that the interaction energy contains a linear term leading to the confinement of static probe charges.Comment: 13 pages, RevTex; correction for a mispelled author, final version to be published in Phys. Lett.

Confinement from spontaneous breaking of scale symmetry

We show that one can obtain naturally the confinement of static charges from the spontaneous symmetry breaking of scale invariance in a gauge theory. At the classical level a confining force is obtained and at the quantum level, using a gauge invariant but path-dependent variables formalism, the Cornell confining potential is explicitly obtained. Our procedure answers completely to the requirements by 't Hooft for ''perturbative confinement''.Comment: 6 page

Coulomb interaction from the interplay between Confinement and Screening

It has been noticed that confinement effects can be described by the addition of a $\sqrt {- F_{\mu \nu}^a F^{a\mu \nu}}$ term in the Lagrangian density. We now study the combined effect of such "confinement term" and that of a mass term. The surprising result is that the interplay between these two terms gives rise to a Coulomb interaction. Our picture has a certain correspondence with the quasiconfinement picture described by Giles, Jaffe and de Rujula for QCD with symmetry breaking.Comment: 9 page

Static potential from spontaneous breaking of scale symmetry

We determine the static potential for a heavy quark-antiquark pair from the spontaneous symmetry breaking of scale invariance in a non-Abelian gauge theory. Our calculation is done within the framework of the gauge-invariant, path-dependent, variables formalism. The result satisfies the 't Hooft basic criterion for achieving confinement.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, no figures; final version accepted for publication in PLB, new references and comments, physical results unchange