Metal-Insulator Transition of Disordered Interacting Electrons

TL;DR

This paper investigates how disorder and electron interactions influence the metal-insulator transition in low-density, disordered two-dimensional systems, highlighting the conditions under which metallic states become unstable and transition to insulators.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of the metal-insulator transition driven by disorder and interactions in two-dimensional electron systems, emphasizing the role of screening length and mean free path.

Findings

Disorder and interactions significantly affect conductivity and compressibility.

A transition to an insulating state occurs in two-dimensional systems under certain conditions.

The metallic state stability is compromised when the mean free path is smaller than the screening length.

Abstract

We calculate the corrections to the conductivity and compressibility of a disordered metal when the mean free path is smaller than the screening length. Such a condition is shown to be realized for low densities and large disorder. Analysis of the stability of the metallic state reveals a transition to the insulating state in two-dimensions.