  We study the continuum limit of the string-like behaviour of flux tubes
formed between static quarks and anti-quarks in three dimensional SU(2) lattice
gauge theory. We compare our simulation data with the predictions of both
effective string models as well as perturbation theory. On the string side we
obtain clear evidence for convergence of data to predictions of Nambu-Goto
theory. We comment on the scales at which the static potential starts departing
from one loop perturbation theory and then again being well described by
effective string theories. We also estimate the leading corrections to the
one-loop perturbative potential as well as the Nambu-Goto effective string. In
the intermediate regions we find that a modified Lennard-Jones type potential
gives surprisingly good fits.
