The conductivity of the spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas: Exchange/correlation and strong disorder effects

The conductivity of a spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas is calculated and compared with the conductivity of the unpolarized electron gas. Disorder effects are considered within the self-consistent current relaxation theory, which gives rise to a crossover point from metallic to insulating behavior. Many-body effects due to exchange and correlation are taken into account and are described by a local-field correction. Our calculations are in good agreement with recent experimental results on the magnetoresistance of silicon inversion layers.