  We propose to use the radio-frequency single-electron transistor as an
extremely sensitive probe to detect the time-periodic ac signal generated by
sliding electron lattice in the insulating state of the dilute two-dimensional
electron gas. We also propose to use the optically-pumped NMR technique to
probe the electron spin structure of the insulating state. We show that the
electron effective mass and spin susceptibility are strongly enhanced by
critical fluctuations of electron lattice in the vicinity of the
metal-insulator transition, as observed in experiment.
