Color-dielectric models from a lattice point of view

We study the color-dielectric model, introduced by Nielsen and Patks, using lattice gauge theory. We argue that the collective color-dielectric field, which is introduced by a block-spinning method, approaches zero in the vacuum for confining theories for a sufficiently large averaging size of the block-spinning box, as a consequence of the area-law behavior of Wilson loops. Increasing the box size increases the effective potential height for quarks, but decreases the resolving power of the effective theory. Estimates show that there exists an optimal choice of the size of the box suitable for a mean-field description of hadrons within the color-dielectric models with confinement. This yields a limit for the maximum momentum scales for which these models are applicable. This limit poses no difficulties for construction of phenomenological models.