NEW LIQUID-PHASE AND METAL-INSULATOR-TRANSITION IN SI MOSFETS

We argue that there is a new liquid phase in the two-dimensional elect ron system in Si MOSFETs at low enough electron densities. The recentl y observed metal-insulator transition results as a crossover from the percolation transition of the liquid phase through the disorder landsc ape in the system below the liquid-gas critical temperature. The conse quences of our theory are discussed for variety of physical properties relevant to the recent experiments.