Gauge field theory of transport and magnetic relaxation in underdoped cuprates

Based on recently proposed U(1)xSU(2) Chern-Simons gauge field theory, an interpretation of the transport and magnetic relaxation properties of underdoped cuprates is proposed, taking into account the short range antiferromagnetic order. The interplay of the doping-dependent spin gap (explicitly derived by us) effect and dissipation due to gauge fluctuations gives rise to a crossover from metallic to insulating behavior of conductivity as temperature decreases, in semi-quantitative agreement with experimental data. For the same reason the magnetic relaxation rate shows a maximum nearby. Various crossover temperatures related to spin gap effects are shown to be different manifestations of the same energy scale.