FINITE-TEMPERATURE PROPERTIES OF A GAUGE-THEORY OF NONRELATIVISTIC FERMIONS

We study finite-temperature properties of a gauge theory of nonrelativ istic fermions introduced by Halperin, Lee, and Read. This gauge theor y is relevant to two interesting systems: high-T-c superconductors in the anomalous metallic phase and a two-dimensional electron system in a strong magnetic field at the Landau filling factor nu = 1/2. We calc ulate the self-energies of both gauge bosons and fermions by the rando m-phase approximation, showing that the dominant terms at low energies are generated by the gauge-fermion interaction. The current-current c orrelation function is also calculated by the ladder approximation. We confirm that the electric conductivity satisfies the Drude formula an d obtain its temperature dependence, which is of a non-Fermi liquid.