The static Q\bar Q interaction at small distances and OPE violating terms

The nonperturbative contribution to the one-gluon exchange produces a universal linear term in the static potential at small distances ΔV=6N _c α _s σr/2π. Its role in the resolution of long-standing discrepancies in the fine splitting of heavy quarkonia and improving agreement with lattice data for static potentials is examined, and implications for operator product expansion (OPE) violating terms in other processes are discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 7, 471–473 (10 April 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.