The gauge invariant two-point correlation function of the gauge field
strength tensor is calculated in perturbation theory at the next-to-le
ading order. Besides a direct calculation in perturbative QCD we also
present a derivation of the correlation function in the heavy quark ef
fective theory. Our results are briefly compared with recent determina
tions of the field strength correlator on the lattice. (C) 1998 Elsevi
er Science B.V.