Abstract
A confining quantum chromodynamics (QCD) model is formulated on the basis of a new general Yang-Mills \(SU_3\) symmetry. The general Yang-Mills transformations involve arbitrary vector gauge functions \(_(x)\) and Hamilton's characteristic phase functions. We derive fourth-order equations for new `phase fields', which predicts dual linear and Coulomb-like potentials for quark confinement. The quantum of the `phase field' is called `confion'. The confion coupling strength turns out to be small, \(g_s^2/(4) 0.2\), based on Cornell's results for charmonium. Confions have indefinite energies. However, such unphysical energies of confions cannot be detected because they are permanently confined within the quark systems. Furthermore, Green functions associated with confions do not propagate in space-time.