Universal Critical Quantum Properties of Cuprate Superconductors

• Authors: T. Schneider
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Using the scaling theory of quantum critical phenomena we explore the occurrence of universal critical behavior at the insulator-to-superconductor and superconductor-to-normal state transitions at zero temperature. Experimentally, these phase transitions are driven by doping and correspond to critical end points of the phase transition line in the temperature-hole concentration plane. Provided that the order parameter is a complex scalar in two dimensions, and that the London relation between superfluid number density and magnetic penetration depth holds, the scaling theory predicts universal behavior close to the insulator-to-superconductor transition. In particular, transition temperature and zero temperature penetration depth are universally related and the sheet resistance adopts a universal value. These predictions agree remarkably well with available experimental data and provide useful constraints for a microscopic theory.

Keywords

EN

74.62.-c; 74.72.-h; 74.62.Dh; 74.25.-q

• Publisher: Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Acta Physica Polonica A
• Year: 1997
• Volume: 91
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 203-212

Dates

published

1997-01

Contributors

author

T. Schneider

• IBM Research Division, Zurich Research Laboratory, Säumerstr. 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland