We study a version of the uniform resonating-valence-band state in which fermions and spinless bosons are coupled by a gauge field. We show that above the Bose-Einstein temperature, the boson inverse lifetime due to scattering by the gauge field is of order kT, which suppresses the condensation temperature and leads to a linear T resistivity. The Hall number is proportional to the hole density and temperature dependent. The single-particle spectral weight exhibits a continuum plus a broadened peak. The ‘‘Fermi surface’’ area satisfies Luttinger’s theorem. Comparison with the anomalous normal-state properties of oxide superconductors is made.

• Received 23 February 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.64.2450