Accurate scale determinations for the Wilson gauge action

Accurate determinations of the physical scale of a lattice action are required to check scaling and take the continuum limit. We present a high statistics study of the static potential for the SU(3) Wilson gauge action on coarse lattices (5.54 less than or equal to beta less than or equal to 6.0). Using an improved analysis procedure we determine the string tension and the Sommer scale r(o) land related quantities) to 1% accuracy, including all systematic errors. Combining our results with earlier ones on finer lattices, we present parameterizations of these quantities that should be accurate to about 1% for 5.6 less than or equal to beta less than or equal to 6.5. We estimate the Lambda-parameter of quenched QCD to be Lambda(<(MS)over bar>) = 247(16) MeV. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.