String deformations induced by retardation effects in mesons

The rotating-string model is an effective model of mesons, in which the quark and the antiquark are linked by a straight string. We previously developed a method to estimate the retardation effects in this model, but the string was still kept straight. We now go a step further and show that this kind of retardation effects cause a small deviation of the string from the straight line. We first give general arguments constraining the string shape. Then, we find analytical and numerical solutions for the string deformation induced by retardation effects. We finally discuss the influence of the curved string on the energy spectrum of the model.