We show that the string tension in N=1 two-dimensional super Yang-Mills the
ory vanishes independently of the representation of the quark anti-quark ex
ternal source. We argue that this result persists in SQCD(2) and in two-dim
ensional gauge theories with extended supersymmetry or in chiral invariant
models with at least one massless dynamical fermion.
We also compute the string tension for the massive Schwinger model, as a de
monstration of the method of the calculation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V
. AU rights reserved.