0 SU ( 3 ) - inspired confining strings with θ - term

The generalization of 4D confining string theory to the SU(3)-inspired case is derived. It describes string representation of the Wilson loop in the SU(3)-analogue of compact QED extended by the θ-term. It is shown that although the obtained theory of confining strings differs from that of compact QED, their low-energy limits have the same functional form. This fact leads to the appearance of the string θ-term in the low-energy limit of the SU(3)-inspired confining string theory. In particular, it is shown that in the extreme strong coupling regime, the crumpling of string world sheets could disappear owing to the string θ-term at θ = π/12. Various consequences of introduction of the field-theoretical θ-term to the vacuum properties of the SU(3)-generalization of compact QED are discussed in the language of stochastic vacuum model. Finally, some characteristic features of the SU(N)-case are pointed out.