Confinement through a relativistic generalization of the linear interaction

Abstract

Generalizing a covariant framework previously developed, it is shown that confinement insures that meson $\to q+\bar{q}$ decay amplitudes vanish when both quarks are on-shell. Regularization of singularities in a covariant linear potential associated with nonzero energy transfers (i.e. $q^2=0,q^{\mu }\ne 0$) is improved.

Comments: Contributed paper to the Third International Conference On Quark Confinement, Jefferson Lab, Newport News, Virginia, June 7-12 1998