We perform the first study of the static pentaquark ($5Q$) potential $V_{5Q}$ in SU(3) quenched lattice QCD with ${16}^3\times 32$ and $\beta =6.0$. From the $5Q$ Wilson loop, $V_{5Q}$ is calculated in a gauge-invariant manner, with the smearing method to enhance the ground-state component. $V_{5Q}$ is well described by the OGE–plus–multi-Y ansatz: a sum of the one-gluon-exchange (OGE) Coulomb term and the multi-Y-type linear term proportional to the minimal total length of the flux tube linking the five quarks. Comparing with $Q\overline{Q}$ and $3Q$ potentials, we find a universality of the string tension, ${\sigma }_{Q\overline{Q}}\simeq {\sigma }_{3Q}\simeq {\sigma }_{5Q}$, and the OGE result for Coulomb coefficients.

• Received 2 July 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.192001