Nodal Liquids and Duality

Abstract

Using a SU(2)x U(1) gauge theory for a t-J model around a node of the Fermi surface, we discuss patterns of dynamical symmetry breaking, which may lead to a pseudogap phase and to the appearance of narrow one-dimensional spatial structures, induced by the presence of holes. A possible connection with stripe phases is briefly discussed by passing to an appropriate dual theory. We discuss confinement properties of spinons and holons and derive the spectrum of the (gapful) physical excitations which are composites of holons corresponding to `mesons', and composites of spinons corresponding to `baryons'.