  Sources in higher representations of SU(N) gauge theory at T=0 couple with
apparently stable strings with tensions depending on the specific
representation rather than on its N-ality. Similarly at the deconfining
temperature these sources carry their own representation-dependent critical
exponents. It is pointed out that in some instances one can evaluate exactly
these exponents by fully exploiting the correspondence between the 2+1
dimensional critical gauge theory and the 2d conformal field theory in the same
universality class. The emerging functional form of the Polyakov-line
correlators suggests a similar form for Wilson loops in higher representations
which helps in understanding the behaviour of unstable strings at T=0. A
generalised Wilson loop in which along part of its trajectory a source is
converted in a gauge invariant way into higher representations with same
N-ality could be used as a tool to estimate the decay scale of the unstable
strings.
