The static three-quark SU(3) and four-quark SU(4) potentials

We present results on the static three- and four-quark potentials in SU(3) and SU(4) respectively within quenched lattice QCD. We use an analytic multi-hit procedure for the time links and a variational approach to determine the ground state. The three- and four-quark potentials extracted are consistent with a sum of two-body potentials, possibly with a weak many-body component. The results give support to the $\Delta$ ansatz for the baryonic area law.