Confining classical configurations

Abstract We construct a family of smooth, almost self-dual, non-thermalized SU(2) gauge field configurations, and measure the average of the fundamental, adjoint and spin 3 2 representation Wilson loops on them. We get area law in all three cases. We also study thermalised configurations at β = 2.325 after cooling. The ratio of string tension in the spin j representation over that in the fundamental, stays constant with cooling.