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# Universal properties of cuprate superconductors: Evidence and implications

## I Introduction

Establishing and understanding the phase diagram of cuprate superconductors in the temperature - dopant concentration plane is one of the major challenges in condensed matter physics. Superconductivity is derived from the insulating and antiferromagnetic parent compounds by partial substitution of ions or by adding or removing oxygen. For instance La2CuO4 can be doped either by alkaline earth ions or oxygen to exhibit superconductivity. The empirical phase diagram of La2-xSrxCuO4  depicted in Fig.1 shows that after passing the so called underdoped limit $`\left(x_u0.047\right)`$, $`T_c`$ reaches its maximum value $`T_c^m`$ at $`x_m0.16`$. With further increase of $`x`$, $`T_c`$ decreases and finally vanishes in the overdoped limit $`x_o0.273`$. This phase transition line is thought to be a generic property of cuprate superconductors  and is well described by the empirical relation

$$T_c\left(x\right)=T_c\left(x_m\right)\left(12\left(\frac{x}{x_m}1\right)^2\right)=\frac{2T_c\left(x_m\right)}{x_m^2}\left(xx_u\right)\left(x_ox\right),x_m=0.16,$$
(1)
proposed by Presland et al.. Approaching the endpoints along the axis $`x`$, La2-xSrxCuO4 undergoes at zero temperature doping tuned quantum phase transitions. As their nature is concerned, resistivity measurements reveal a quantum superconductor to insulator (QSI) transition in the underdoped limit and in the overdoped limit a quantum superconductor to normal state (QSN) transition.

Another essential experimental fact is the doping dependence of the anisotropy. In tetragonal cuprates it is defined as the ratio $`\gamma =\xi _{ab}/\xi _c`$ of the correlation lengths parallel $`\left(\xi _{ab}\right)`$ and perpendicular $`\left(\xi _c\right)`$ to CuO2 layers (ab-planes). In the superconducting state it can also be expressed as the ratio $`\gamma =\lambda _c/\lambda _{ab}`$ of the London penetration depths due to supercurrents flowing perpendicular ($`\lambda _c`$ ) and parallel ($`\lambda _{ab}`$ ) to the ab-planes. Approaching a nonsuperconductor to superconductor transition $`\xi `$ diverges, while in a superconductor to nonsuperconductor transition $`\lambda `$ tends to infinity. In both cases, however, $`\gamma `$ remains finite as long as the system exhibits anisotropic but genuine 3D behavior. There are two limiting cases: $`\gamma =1`$ characterizes isotropic 3D- and $`\gamma =\mathrm{}`$ 2D-critical behavior. An instructive model where $`\gamma `$ can be varied continuously is the anisotropic 2D Ising model. When the coupling in the y direction goes to zero, $`\gamma =\xi _x/\xi _y`$ becomes infinite, the model reduces to the 1D case and $`T_c`$ vanishes. In the Ginzburg-Landau description of layered superconductors the anisotropy is related to the interlayer coupling. The weaker this coupling is, the larger $`\gamma `$ is. The limit $`\gamma =\mathrm{}`$ is attained when the bulk superconductor corresponds to a stack of independent slabs of thickness $`d_s`$. With respect to experimental work, a considerable amount of data is available on the chemical composition dependence of $`\gamma `$ . At $`T_c`$ it can be inferred from resistivity ($`\gamma =\xi _{ab}/\xi _c=\sqrt{\rho _{ab}/\rho _c}`$) and magnetic torque measurements, while in the superconducting state it follows from magnetic torque and penetration depth ($`\gamma =\lambda _c/\lambda _{ab}`$) data. In Fig.1 we included the doping dependence of $`1/\gamma _T`$ evaluated at $`T_c`$ ($`\gamma _{T_c}`$) and $`T=0`$ ($`\gamma _{T=0}`$). As the dopant concentration is reduced, $`\gamma _{T_c}`$ and $`\gamma _{T=0}`$ increase systematically, and tend to diverge in the underdoped limit. Thus the temperature range where superconductivity occurs shrinks in the underdoped regime with increasing anisotropy. This competition between anisotropy and superconductivity raises serious doubts whether 2D mechanisms and models, corresponding to the limit $`\gamma _T=\mathrm{}`$, can explain the essential observations of superconductivity in the cuprates. From Fig.1 it is also seen that $`\gamma _T\left(x\right)`$ is well described by

$$\gamma _T\left(x\right)=\frac{\gamma _{T,0}}{xx_u}.$$
(2)
Having also other cuprate families in mind, it is convenient to express the dopant concentration in terms of $`T_c`$. From Eqs.(1) and(2) we obtain the correlation between $`T_c`$ and $`\gamma _T`$:

$$\frac{T_c}{T_c\left(x_m\right)}=1\left(\frac{\gamma _T\left(x_m\right)}{\gamma _T}1\right)^2,\gamma _T\left(x_m\right)=\frac{\gamma _{T,0}}{x_mx_u}$$
(3)
Provided that this empirical correlation is not merely an artefact of La2-xSrxCuO4, it gives a universal perspective on the interplay of anisotropy and superconductivity, among the families of cuprates, characterized by $`T_c\left(x_m\right)`$ and $`\gamma _T\left(x_m\right)`$. For this reason it is essential to explore its generic validity. In practice, however, there are only a few additional compounds, including HgBa2CuO4+δ and Bi2Sr2CuO6+δ, for which the dopant concentration can be varied continuously throughout the entire doping range. It is well established, however, that the substitution of magnetic and nonmagnetic impurities, depress $`T_c`$ of cuprate superconductors very effectively. To compare the doping and substitution driven variations of the anisotropy, we depicted in Fig.2 the plot $`T_c/T_c\left(x_m\right)`$ versus $`\gamma _T\left(x_m\right)/`$ $`\gamma _T`$ for a variety of cuprate families. The collapse of the data on the parabola, which is the empirical relation (3), reveals that this scaling form appears to be universal. Thus, given a family of cuprate superconductors, characterized by $`T_c\left(x_m\right)`$ and $`\gamma _T\left(x_m\right)`$, it gives a universal perspective on the interplay between anisotropy and superconductivity.

The effect of a substitution for Cu by other magnetic or nonmagnetic metals was also investigated extensively . A result common to all of these studies is that $`T_c`$ is suppressed in the same manner, independent of wether the substituent is magnetic or nonmagnetic. For this reason, the phase diagram of La2-xSrxCu1-yZnyO4, depicted in Fig.3, applies quite generally. Apparently, the substituent axis (y) extends the complexity and richness of the phase diagram considerably. The blue curve corresponds to a line of quantum phase transitions, given by $`y_c\left(x\right)`$. The pink arrow marks the doping tuned insulator to metal crossover and the green arrow corresponds to a path along which a QSI and QSN transition occurs. From Fig. 4 it can be inferred that isotope substitution, though much less effective, has essentially the same effect. $`T_c`$ is lowered and the underdoped limit $`x_u`$ shifts to some $`y_c\left(x\right)`$. This suggests that substitution induced local distortions, rather than magnetism, is the important factor. For $`y>y_c\left(x\right)`$ superconductivity is suppressed due to the destruction of phase coherence.

The point of reference for magnetic field tuned transitions is embodied in the schematic phase diagram shown in Fig.5. It is strongly affected by the combined effect of pinning, thermal and quantum fluctuations, anisotropy and dimensionality . In clean cuprates and close to $`T_c\left(x,H=0\right)`$ thermal fluctuations are thought to be responsible for the existence of a first-order vortex melting transition. In the presence of disorder, however, the long-range order of the vortex lattice is destroyed and the vortex solid becomes a glass . Since a sufficiently large magnetic field suppresses superconductivity, due to the destruction of phase coherence, there is a line $`H_m\left(x\right)`$ of quantum phase transitions, connecting the zero field QSI and QSN transitions. Indeed, recent experiments revealed that sufficiently-intense magnetic fields suppress superconductivity and mediate a metal to insulator (MI) crossover .

The QSI transition can also be traversed in films by changing their thickness. An instructive example are the measurements on YBa2Cu3O7-δ slabs of thickness $`d`$ separated by 16 unit cells ($`187A`$) of PrBa2Cu3O7. Due to their large separation the YBa2Cu3O7-δ slabs are essentially uncoupled. As shown in Fig.6, $`T_c`$ was found to vary with the thickness $`d`$ of the YBa2Cu3O7-δ slabs as

$$\frac{T_c\left(d\right)}{T_c^{bulk}}=\frac{d_s}{d}\left(\frac{d}{d_s}1\right),$$
(4)
with $`T_c^{bulk}=91K`$ and $`d_s=10.1A`$. $`d_s`$ is the critical film thickness below which superconductivity is lost. Although the decrease of $`T_c`$ is partially due to the 3D-2D crossover, the occurrence of the QSI transition points to the dominant role of disorder and quantum fluctuations. For this reason it is conceivable that in sufficiently clean films superconductivity may also occur at and slightly below $`d_s`$. Recently this has been achieved by inducing charges by the field-effect technique, whereby the mobile carrier density can be varied continuously and reversibly, without introducing additional sources of disorder. By establishing a voltage difference between a metallic electrode and the crystal, charge can be added or removed from the CuO2 layers: positive voltage injects electrons, and a negative voltage injects holes. This allows to vary both electron and hole charge densities over a considerable range of interest. Using this technique Schön et al. converted an insulating thin slab of CaCuO2 into a superconductor. The success of this technique relies on the high quality films and on the quality of the interfaces between the film material and the metallic electrode. The ($`T_c`$, $`x`$) phase diagram for CaCuO2 is shown Fig.7. The doping level was calculated from the independently measured capacitance of the gate dielectric, assuming that all the charge is located in a single CuO2 layer. The diagram exhibits apparent electron and hole superconductivity, and bears a strong resemblance to results observed in other cuprates, in qualitative agreement with the empirical correlation (3) for bulk systems. Note that the finite temperature superconductor to normal state transition falls into the 2D-XY universality class. Thus $`T_c`$ is the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature. At low doping levels ($`x<0.1`$) a logarithmic divergence of the resistivity was found. This observation for n- as well as p-type doping of CaCuO2 are in accordance with a 2D-QSI transition in the underdoped limit. Although superconductivity has been observed previously in SrCuO2/BaCuO2 and in BaCuO2/CaCuO2 superlattices with a maximum $`T_c`$ value of about 80 K, the field effect doping is not limited by dopant solubility and compositional stability. This technique allows to study the properties of a given material as a function of the dopant concentration without introducing additional disorder and additional defects. Because the charge carriers appear to be confined in a very thin layer, what’s seen is superconductivity in 2D. Thus, due to the reduced dimensionality fluctuations will be enhanced over the full range of dopant concentrations. The phase diagram displayed in Fig.7 also points to a 2D-QSN transition in the overdoped limit. In any case, this phase diagram clearly reveals the survival of superconductivity in field effect doped CaCuO2 in the 2D-limit, while it disappears in the bulk (see e.g. Fig.2) with increasing anisotropy and in chemically doped films at a critical thickness $`d_s`$, presumably controlled by disorder.

This review aims to analyze the empirical correlations and phase diagrams from the point of view of thermal and quantum critical phenomena, to identify the universal properties, the effective dimensionality and the associated crossover phenomena. In view of the mounting evidence for 3D-XY-universality close to optimum doping , we concentrate here on the thermodynamic and ground state properties emerging from the QSI- and QSN- transitions, including the associated crossover phenomena. For this purpose we invoke the scaling theory of quantum critical phenomena.

Zero temperature phase transitions in quantum systems differ fundamentally from their finite temperature counterparts in that their thermodynamics and dynamics are inextricably mixed. Nevertheless, by means of the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, one can view the statistical mechanics of D-dimensional $`T=0`$ quantum system as the statistical mechanics of a $`D+z`$ dimensional classical system with a fake temperature which is some measure of the dynamics, characterized by the dynamic critical exponent $`z`$. This allows one to apply the scaling theory developed for classical critical phenomena to quantum criticality. In particular this leads to an understanding of the low $`T`$ and crossover behavior close to quantum phase transitions and to universal relations between various properties. Evidence for power law behavior should properly consist of data that cover several decades in the parameters to provide reliable estimates for the critical exponents. In cuprate superconductors, the various power laws span at best one decade. Accordingly, more extended experimental data are needed to determine the critical exponents of the quantum phase transitions. Nevertheless, irrespective of their precise value, the evidence for scaling and with that for data collapse exists. It uncovers the relationship between various properties and the significance of the empirical correlations and offers an understanding of the doping, substitution and magnetic field tuned quantum phase transition points and lines (see Figs.1, 3 and 5). Evidently, the anisotropy, the associated dimensional crossover and the scaling relations between various properties close to the OSI and QSN criticality provide essential constraints for the understanding of the phase diagrams and the microscopic theory of superconductivity in these materials.

Note that this scenario is not incompatible with the zoo of microscopic models, relying on competing order parameters . Here it is assumed that in the doping regime where superconductivity occurs, competing fluctuations, including antiferromagnetic and charge fluctuations, can be integrated out. The free-energy density is then a functional of a complex scalar, the order parameter of the superconducting phase, only. Given the generic phase diagrams (Figs.1, 3 and 5) the scaling theory of finite temperature and quantum critical phenomena leads to predictions, including the universal properties, which can be confronted with experiment. As it stands, the available experimental data appears to be fully consistent with a single complex scalar order parameter, a doping tuned dimensional crossover and a doping, substitution or magnetic field driven suppression of superconductivity, due to the loss of phase coherence. When the evidence for this scenario persists, antiferromagnetic and charge fluctuations turn out to be irrelevant close to criticality. Moreover, it implies that a finite transition temperature and superfluid aerial superfluid density in the ground state, require in chemically doped systems a finite anisotropy. The important conclusion there is that a finite superfluid density in the ground state of bulk cuprates oxides is unalterably linked to an anisotropic but 3D condensation mechanism. Thus despite the strongly two-dimensional layered structure of cuprate superconductors, a finite anisotropy associated with the third dimension, perpendicular to the CuO2 planes, is an essential factor in mediating superfluidity.

The paper is organized as follows. Sec.II is devoted to the finite temperature critical behavior. Since a substantial review on this topic is available, we concentrate on the specific heat. In Sec.II.A we sketch the scaling theory of finite temperature critical phenomena in anisotropic superconductors falling into the 3D-XY universality class. This leads naturally to universal critical amplitude combinations, involving the transition temperature and the critical amplitudes of specific heat, correlation lengths and penetration depths. The universality class to which the cuprates belong is thus not only characterized by its critical exponents but also by various critical-point amplitude combinations which are equally important. Indeed, though these amplitudes depend on the dopant concentration, substitution etc., their universal combinations do not. Evidence for 3D-XY universality and their implication for the vortex melting transition is presented in Sec.II.B. Here we also discuss the limitations arising from the inhomogeneities and the anisotropy, which render it difficult to observe 3D-XY critical behavior along the entire phase transition line $`T_c\left(x\right)`$ (Fig.1) or on the entire surface $`T_c(x,y)`$ (Fig.3).

In Sec.III we examine the quantum phase transitions and the associated crossover phenomena. The scaling theory of quantum phase transitions, extended to anisotropic superconductors, is reviewed in Sec.III.A. Essential predictions include a universal amplitude relation in D=2 involving the transition temperature and the zero temperature in-plane penetration depth, as well as a fixed value of the in-plane sheet conductivity. Moreover we explore the scaling properties of transition temperature, penetration depths, correlation lengths, anisotropy and specific heat coefficient at 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality. In Sec.III.B we confront these predictions with the empirical correlations (1), (2) and (3) and pertinent experiments. Although the experimental data are rather sparse, in particular close to the 3D-QSN transition, we observe a flow pattern pointing consistently to a 2D-QSI transition with $`z=1`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1`$, and 3D-QSN criticality with $`z=2`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1/2`$. $`z`$ is the dynamic critical exponent and $`\overline{\nu }`$ the correlation length exponent. The estimates for the 2D-QSI transition coincide with the theoretical prediction for a 2D disordered bosonic system with long-range Coulomb interactions. This reveals that in cuprate superconductors the loss of phase coherence, due to the localization of Cooper pairs, is responsible for the 2D-QSI transition. On the other hand, $`z=2`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1/2`$ point to a 3D-QSN critical point, compatible with a disordered metal to d-wave superconductor transition at weak coupling. Here the disorder destroys superconductivity, while at the 2D-QSI transition it destroys superfluidity. A characteristic feature of the 2D-QSI transition is its rather wide and experimentally accessible critical region. For this reason we observe consistent evidence that it falls into the same universality class as the onset of superfluidity in 4He films in disordered media, corrected for the long-rangeness of the Coulomb interaction. As also discussed in this section, the existence of 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN critical points implies a doping and substitution tuned dimensional crossover. A glance to Fig.2 shows that it is due to the dependence of the anisotropy on doping and substitution. An important implication is, that despite the small fraction, which the third dimension contributes to the superfluid energy density in the ground state, a finite transition temperature and superfluid density in bulk cuprates is unalterably linked to a finite anisotropy. Thus, despite their strongly two-dimensional layered structure, a finite anisotropy associated with the third dimension, perpendicular to the CuO2 planes, is an essential factor in mediating pair condensation. This points unambiguously to the conclusion that theories formulated for a single CuO2 plane cannot be the whole story. Moreover, the evidence for the flow to 2D-QSI criticality also implies that the standard Hamiltonian for layered superconductors is incomplete. Although its critical properties fall into the 3D-XY universality class, disorder and quantum fluctuations must be included to account for the flow to 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality.

Sec.IV is devoted to the magnetic field tuned quantum phase transitions. Contrary to finite temperature, disorder is an essential ingredient at $`T=0`$. It destroys superconductivity at 3D-QSN criticality and superfluidity at 2D-QSI critical points. On the other hand, superconductivity is also destroyed by a sufficiently large magnetic field. Accordingly, one expects a line $`H_m\left(x\right)`$ of quantum phase transitions, connecting the zero field 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transitions (see Fig.5). The relevance of disorder at this critical endpoints suggests a line of quantum vortex glass to vortex fluid transitions. Although the available experimental data is rather sparse, it points to the existence of a quantum critical line $`H_m\left(x\right)`$ and 2D localization, consistent with 2D-QSI criticality.

In Sec.V we treat cuprates with reduced dimensionality. Empirically it is well established that a quantum superconductor to insulator transition in thin films can also be traversed by reducing the film thickness. There is a critical film thickness ($`d_s`$) where $`T_c`$ vanishes and below which disorder destroys superconductivity. In chemically doped cuprates the critical thickness is comparable to the c-axis lattice constant. Moreover, the empirical correlation (3), displayed in Fig.2, implies that in the bulk superconductivity disappears in the 2D limit. Thus, the combined effect of disorder and quantum fluctuations appears to prevent the occurrence of strictly 2D superconductivity. For this reason it is conceivable that in sufficiently clean films superconductivity may also occur at and below this value of $`d_s`$. As aforementioned, this has been achieved by field effect doped CaCuO2. Although more detailed studies are needed to uncover the characteristic 2D critical properties in field effect doped cuprates, the phase diagram of CaCuO2 clearly points to a 2D-QSI transition in the underdoped and a 2D-QSN transition in the overdoped limit. It also implies that in field effect doped cuprates superconductivity survives in the 2D limit, while in the bulk and chemically doped films it disappears. Since chemically doped materials with different carrier densities also have varying amounts of disorder, the third dimension appears to be needed to delocalize the carriers and to mediate superfluidity. The comparison with other layered superconductors, including organics and dichalcogenides is made in Sec.VI.

## II Finite temperature critical behavior

### A Sketch of the scaling predictions

In superconductors the order parameter is a complex scaler, but it can also be viewed as a two component vector (XY). Supposing that sufficiently close to the phase transition line, separating the superconducting and non superconducting phase, 3D-XY-fluctuations dominate, the scaling form of the singular part of the bulk free energy density adopts then the form

$$f_s=k_BTQ_3^\pm \left(\xi _x^\pm \xi _y^\pm \xi _z^\pm \right)^1$$
(5)
where $`\xi _i^\pm `$ is the correlation length diverging as

$$\xi _i^\pm =\xi _{i,0}^\pm |t|^\nu ,i=x,y,z,\pm =sign\left(t\right),t=\frac{TT_c}{T_c}$$
(6)
and $`Q_3^\pm `$ are universal constants. In this context it should be kept in mind, that in superconductors the pairs carry a non zero charge in addition to their mass and the charge $`\left(\mathrm{\Phi }_0=hc/2e\right)`$ couples the order parameter to the electromagnetic field via the gradient term in the Ginzburg-Landau Hamiltonian. In extreme type II superconductors, however, the coupling to vector potential fluctuations appears to be weak, but nonetheless, in principle, these fluctuations drive the system very close to criticality, to a charged critical point. In any case, inhomogeneities in cuprate superconductors appear to prevent from entering this regime, due to the associated finite size effect. For these reasons, the neglect of vector potential fluctuations appears to be justified and the critical properties at finite temperature are then those of the 3D-XY - model, reminiscent to the lamda transition in superfluid helium, extended to take the anisotropy into account.

In the superconducting phase the order parameter $`\mathrm{\Psi }`$ can be decomposed into a longitudinal ($`\mathrm{\Psi }_0+\mathrm{\Psi }_{lo}`$) and transverse ($`\mathrm{\Psi }_{tr}`$) part:

$$\mathrm{\Psi }=\mathrm{\Psi }_0+\mathrm{\Psi }_{lo}+i\mathrm{\Psi }_{tr},$$
(7)
where $`\mathrm{\Psi }_0=\mathrm{\Psi }`$ is chosen to be real. At long wavelength and in the superconducting phase the transverse fluctuations dominate and the correlations do not decay exponentially, but according to a power law. This results in an inapplicability of the usual definitions of a correlation length below $`T_c`$. However, in terms of the helicity modulus, which is a measure of the response of the system to a phase-twisting field, a phase coherence length can be defined. This length diverges at critical points and plays the role of the standard correlation length below $`T_c`$. In the presence of a phase twist of wavenumber $`k_i`$, the singular part of the free energy density adopts the scaling form

$$f_s=\frac{k_BTQ_3^{}}{\xi _x^{tr}\xi _y^{tr}\xi _z^{tr}}\mathrm{\Phi }(k_x\sqrt{\xi _y^{tr}\xi _z^{tr}},k_y\sqrt{\xi _x^{tr}\xi _z^{tr}},k_z\sqrt{\xi _x^{tr}\xi _y^{tr}}),$$
(8)
yielding for the helicity modulus the expression

$$\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_i==\frac{^2f_s}{k_i^2}|_{𝐤=\mathrm{𝟎}}=\frac{k_BTQ_3^{}}{\xi _i^{tr}}\frac{^2\mathrm{\Phi }}{k_i^2}|_{𝐤=\mathrm{𝟎}}$$
(9)
where the normalization, $`Q_3^{}\left(^2\mathrm{\Phi }/k_i^2\right)_{𝐤=\mathrm{𝟎}}`$ $`=1`$, has been chosen. At $`T_c`$ this leads to the universal relation

$$\left(k_BT_c\right)^3=\xi _{x0}^{tr}\xi _{y0}^{tr}\xi _{z0}^{tr}\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{x0}\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{y0}\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{z0}=\left(\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2}{16\pi ^3}\right)^3\frac{\xi _{x0}^{tr}\xi _{y0}^{tr}\xi _{z0}^{tr}}{\lambda _{x0}^2\lambda _{y0}^2\lambda _{z0}^2}$$
(10)
and the definition of the phase coherence lengths, also referred to as the transverse correlation lengths. The critical amplitudes of the transverse correlation length, $`\xi _{i0}^{tr}`$, helicity modulus, $`\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{i0}`$ and penetration depth, $`\lambda _{x0}`$, are the defined as

$$\xi _i^{tr}=\xi _{i0}^{tr}\left|t\right|^\nu \text{}\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_i=\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{i0}\left|t\right|^\nu ,\lambda _i=\lambda _{i0}\left|t\right|^{\nu /2}.$$
(11)
The relationship between helicity modulus and penetration depth, used in Eq.(10), is obtained as follows. From the definition of the supercurrent

$$j_i=c\frac{\delta f_s}{\delta A_i},$$
(12)
where $`𝐀`$ is the vector potential and $`c`$ the speed of light, we obtain for the magnetic penetration depth the expression

$$\frac{1}{\lambda _i^2}=\left(\frac{4\pi j_i}{cA_i}\right)_{𝐀=\mathrm{𝟎}}=\frac{16\pi ^3}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2}\frac{^2f_s}{k^2}|_{k=0}=\frac{16\pi ^3}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2}\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_i,$$
(13)
by imposing the twist, $`k_i=2\pi A_i/\mathrm{\Phi }_0`$.

Noting then that the transverse correlation function decays algebraically,

$$S_{tr}\left(R_i\right)=\mathrm{\Psi }_{tr}\left(R_i\right)\mathrm{\Psi }_{tr}\left(0\right)\mathrm{\Psi }_0^2\frac{\sqrt{\xi _j^{tr}\xi _j^{}^{tr}}}{R_i},jj^{}i,$$
(14)
it is readily seen that the length scales $`\xi ^{}`$ correspond to the real space counterparts of the transverse correlation length defined in terms of the helicity modulus. These length scales are related by

$$\xi _i^{}=\sqrt{\xi _j^{tr}\xi _j^{}^{tr}},jj^{}i$$
(15)
so that,

$$\xi _{x0}^{}\xi _{y0}^{}\xi _{z0}^{}=\xi _{x0}^{tr}\xi _{y0}^{tr}\xi _{z0}^{tr}.$$
(16)
From the singular behavior of the specific heat

$$\frac{C}{Vk_B}=\frac{T}{k_B}\frac{^2f_s}{t^2}\frac{A^\pm }{\alpha }\left|t\right|^\alpha ,$$
(17)
it the follows that the combination of critical amplitudes

$$\left(R^\pm \right)^3=A^\pm \xi _x^\pm \xi _y^\pm \xi _z^\pm =A^\pm \xi _{x0}^{tr}\xi _{y0}^{tr}\xi _{z0}^{tr}=Q_3^\pm \alpha \left(1\alpha \right)\left(2\alpha \right),$$
(18)
is universal, provided that

$$3\nu =2\alpha ,$$
(19)
holds. Moreover, additional universal relations include

$$\frac{A^{}}{A^+}=R_A,\frac{\xi _{x0}^{}\xi _{y0}^{}\xi _{z0}^{}}{\xi _{x0}^+\xi _{y0}^+\xi _{z0}^+}=\frac{\xi _{x0}^{tr}\xi _{y0}^{tr}\xi _{z0}^{tr}}{\xi _{x0}^+\xi _{y0}^+\xi _{z0}^+}=R_\xi .$$
(20)
Thus, the critical amplitudes are expected to differ from system to system and to depend on the dopant concentration, the universal combinations (10), (18) and (20) should hold for all cuprates and irrespective of the doping level, except at the critical endpoints of the 3D-XY critical line.

A characteristic property of cuprate superconductors is their anisotropy. In tetragonal systems, where $`\xi _a=\xi _b=\xi _{ab}`$, it is defined as the ratio $`\gamma =\xi _{ab}/\xi _c`$, of the correlation length parallel and perpendicular to the ab-planes. Noting that according to Eqs.(9) and (13)

$$\frac{\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_x}{\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_z}=\frac{\xi _z^{tr}}{\xi _x^{tr}}=\frac{\xi _z^{tr}\xi _y^{tr}}{\xi _x^{tr}\xi _y^{tr}}=\frac{\lambda _z^2}{\lambda _x^2}=\left(\frac{\xi _x^{}}{\xi _z^{}}\right)^2,$$
(21)
holds, we obtain for $`\gamma `$ the relation

$$\gamma _{T_c}=\frac{\xi _{ab0}^{}}{\xi _{c0}^{}}=\frac{\lambda _{c0}}{\lambda _{ab0}}.$$
(22)
the universal relation (10) can then be rewritten in the form

$$k_BT_c=\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2}{16\pi ^3}\frac{\xi _{ab,0}^{}}{\lambda _{ab,0}^2\gamma _{T_c}}.$$
(23)
Clearly, $`T_c`$, $`\xi _{ab,0}^{}`$, $`\lambda _{ab,0}`$ and $`\gamma `$ depend on the dopant concentration, but universality implies that this relation applies at any finite temperature, irrespective of the doping level. An other remarkable consequence follows from the universal relation

$$k_BT_c^3=\left(\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2}{16\pi ^3k_B}\right)^3\frac{\left(R^{}\right)^3}{A^{}\lambda _{x0}^2\lambda _{y0}^2\lambda _{z0}^2}$$
(24)
which follows from Eqs.(10) and (18). Indeed, considering the effect of doping, substitution and pressure, denoted by the variable y, we obtain

$$\frac{3}{T_c}\frac{dT_c}{dy}=\frac{1}{A^{}}\frac{dA^{}}{dy}+\underset{i}{}\lambda _{i0}^2\frac{d\left(1/\lambda _{i0}^2\right)}{dy}.$$
(25)
Thus, the effect of doping, substitution and pressure on transition temperature, specific heat and penetration depths are not independent, but related by this law.

In an applied magnetic field the singular part of the free energy density adopts the scaling form

$$f_s=\frac{k_BTQ_3^\pm }{\xi _x^\pm \xi _y^\pm \xi _z^\pm }G_3^\pm (\stackrel{~}{z}),G_3^\pm (0)=1,$$
(26)
where

$$\stackrel{~}{z}=\frac{1}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0}\sqrt{H_x^2\xi _y^2\xi _z^2+H_y^2\xi _x^2\xi _z^2+H_z^2\xi _x^2\xi _y^2},$$
(27)
and $`G_3^\pm (\stackrel{~}{z})`$ is a universal scaling function of its argument. Note that in the isotropic case, where $`\xi =\xi _x=\xi _y=\xi _z`$, this scaling form is identical to that of uniformly rotating 4He near the superfluid transition. Magnetic field and rotation frequency are related by $`Hm_4c\mathrm{\Omega }/e`$. In the presence of a magnetic field and $`T<T_c`$ the correlations do no longer decay algebraically. The Fourier transform of $`S_{tr}\left(R\right)`$ behaves for small wavenumbers $`q`$ as

$$S_{tr}\left(q\right)\frac{1}{q^2+1/\xi ^2}.$$
(28)
Supposing then that there is a phase transition in the (H,T)-plane for $`T<T_c`$ the scaling function must have a singularity at some value $`\stackrel{~}{z}_c`$. Examples are the vortex melting and vortex glass transition. Since the vortex melting transition is first order, $`\xi `$ does not diverge but is bounded by

$$\frac{1}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0}\sqrt{H_x^2\xi _y^2\xi _z^2+H_y^2\xi _x^2\xi _z^2+H_z^2\xi _x^2\xi _y^2}=\stackrel{~}{z}_m.$$
(29)
Invoking Eqs.(6) we obtain for the first order transition line with H $``$c$`z`$ the expression,

$$H_{cm}=\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0\stackrel{~}{z}_m}{\xi _{a,0}\xi _{b,0}}\left(\frac{T_cT}{T_c}\right)^{2\nu },\frac{T_cT_{cm}}{T_c}=\left(\frac{\xi _{a,0}\xi _{b,0}}{\stackrel{~}{z}_m\mathrm{\Phi }_0}\right)^{1/2\nu }H_c^{1/2\nu }\text{.}$$
(30)
In the interval $`T_{cm}<T<T_c`$ one expects a remnant of the zero field specific heat singularity. Because the correlation length is bounded, there is a magnetic field induced finite size effect. At the melting transition the limiting length is $`L^2=\left(\stackrel{~}{z}_m\mathrm{\Phi }_0\right)/H_c`$ (Eq.(29)). Close to $`T_c`$ on expects on dimensional grounds, $`L^2\left(\mathrm{\Phi }_0\right)/H_c`$ to hold. Since the correlation length cannot exceed $`L`$, the zero field singularity, i.e. in the specific heat, is removed. As a remnant of this singularity, the specific heat will also exhibit a maximum at $`T_p`$ which is located below $`T_c`$ according to

$$\frac{T_cT_p}{T_c}\left(\frac{\xi _{a,0}\xi _{b,0}}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0}\right)^{1/2\nu }H_c^{1/2\nu }.$$
(31)
### B Evidence for finite temperature critical behavior

Provided that the thermal critical behavior is fluctuation-dominated (i.e. non-mean-field) and the fluctuations of the vector potential can be neglected, cuprate superconductors fall into the 3D-XY universality class. We have seen that the universality class to which a given system belongs is not only characterized by its critical exponents but also by various critical-point amplitude combinations. The implications include: (i) The universal relations hold irrespective of the dopant concentration and material; (ii) Given the nonuniversal critical amplitudes of the correlation lengths, $`\xi _{i,0}^\pm `$, and the universal scaling function $`G_3^\pm (\stackrel{~}{z})`$, universal properties can be derived from the singular part of the free energy close to the zero field transition. These properties include the specific heat, magnetic torque, diamagnetic susceptibility, melting line, etc. Although there is mounting evidence for 3D-XY-universality in cuprates, it should be kept in mind, that evidence for power laws and scaling should properly consist of experimental data that covers several decades of the parameters. In practice, there are inhomogeneities and cuprates are homogeneous over a finite length $`L`$ only. In this case, the actual correlation length $`\xi (t)|t|^\nu `$ cannot grow beyond $`L`$ as $`t0`$, and the transition appears rounded. Due to this finite size effect, the specific heat peak occurs at a temperature $`T_P`$ shifted from the homogeneous system by an amount $`L^{1/\nu }`$, and the magnitude of the peak located at temperature $`T_P`$ scales as $`L^{\alpha /\nu }`$. To quantify this point we show in Fig.8 the measured specific heat coefficient of YBa2Cu3O7-δ. The rounding and the shape of the specific heat coefficient clearly exhibits the characteristic behavior of a system in confined dimensions, i.e. rod or cube shaped inhomogeneities.

A finite-size scaling analysis reveals inhomogeneities with a characteristic length scale ranging from $`300`$ to $`400`$ A, in the YBa2Cu3O7-δ samples YBCO3, UBC2 and UBC . Note that recent measurements by a variety of techniques suggest that superconductivity is not homogeneous in cuprates.For this reason, deviations from $`3D`$-$`XY`$ critical behavior around $`T_p`$ do not signal the failure of $`3D`$-$`XY`$ universality, as previously claimed, but reflect a finite-size effect at work. Indeed from Fig.9 it is seen that the finite-size effect makes it impossible to enter the asymptotic critical regime. To set the scale we note that in the $`\lambda `$-transition of 4He the critical properties can be probed down to $`\left|t\right|=10^9`$. In Fig.8 we marked the intermediate regime where consistency with the 3D-XY-critical behavior, $`C/T=\stackrel{~}{A}^\pm 10^{\alpha \mathrm{log}_{10}|t|}+\stackrel{~}{B}^\pm `$ for $`\alpha =0.013`$ and $`\stackrel{~}{A}^+/\stackrel{~}{A}^{}=1.07`$, can be observed in terms of full circles. The upper branch corresponds to $`T<T_c`$ and the lower one to $`T>T_c`$. The open circles closer to $`T_c`$ correspond to the finite-size affected region, while further away the temperature dependence of the background, usually attributed to phonons, becomes significant. Hence, due to the finite size effect and the temperature dependence of the background the intermediate regime is bounded by the temperature region where the data depicted in Fig. 9 fall nearly on straight lines. In this context it should be kept in mind that the effect of disorder and inhomogeneities is quite different. Since the critical exponent $`\alpha `$ of the specific heat is negative at the 3D-XY transition, Harris criterion implies that disorder is irrelevant so that the critical behavior will be that of the pure system . To provide quantitative evidence for 3D-XY universality in this regime, we invoke the universal relations (10) and (18) to calculate $`T_c`$ from the critical amplitudes of specific heat and penetration depth. Using $`A^+=\mathrm{8.4\; 10}^{20}`$ $`cm^3`$, derived from the data shown in Fig.9 for sample YBCO3 with $`T_c=92.12K`$, $`\lambda _{a,0}=1153A,\lambda _{b,0}=968A`$ and $`\lambda _{c,0}=8705A`$ , derived from magnetic torque measurements on a sample with $`T_c=91.7K`$ , together with the universal numbers $`A^+/A^{}=1.07`$ and $`R^{}0.59`$, we obtain $`T_c=88.2K`$ . Hence, the universal 3D-XY-relations (10) and (18) are remarkably well satisfied.

Another difficulty in observing 3D-XY critical properties stems from the fact that most cuprates are highly anisotropic. A convenient measure of the anisotropy is $`\gamma _{T_c}`$ (Eq.(22)), which depends on the dopant concentration (see Figs.1 and 2). Although the strength of thermal fluctuations grows with increasing $`\gamma `$, they become essential 2D slightly away from $`T_c`$. Accordingly, the 3D-XY - critical regime shrinks and the corrections to scaling become significant. To document this point we depicted in Fig.10 estimates for the derivative of the universal scaling function $`G_3^\pm (\stackrel{~}{z})`$ derived from magnetic torque measurements. Even though the qualitative behavior is the same for all samples, the deviations increase with rising $`\gamma _{T_c}`$. This systematics cannot be attributed to the experimental uncertainties of about 40%. It is more likely that it reflects the reduction of the temperature regime where 3D-fluctuation dominates so that corrections to scaling become important. In this view it is clear that due its moderate anisotropy, optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7-δ is particularly suited to observe and check the consistency with 3D-XY critical behavior. In contrast to this, in highly anisotropic cuprates like Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ, it will be difficult to enter the regime where 3D fluctuations dominate . Nevertheless, since the critical behavior of the charged fixed point is the only alternative left, it becomes clear that even the intermediate critical behavior of highly anisotropic cuprates like Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ falls into the 3D-XY universality class. fluctuations grows with increasing $`\gamma `$, they become essential 2D slightly away from $`T_c`$. Accordingly, the 3D-XY - critical regime shrinks and the corrections to scaling become significant. To document this point we depicted in Fig.10 estimates for the derivative of the universal scaling function $`G_3^\pm (\stackrel{~}{z})`$ derived from magnetic torque measurements. Even though the qualitative behavior is the same for all samples, the deviations increase with rising $`\gamma _{T_c}`$. This systematics cannot be attributed to the experimental uncertainties of about 40%. It is more likely that it reflects the reduction of the temperature regime where 3D-fluctuation dominates so that corrections to scaling become important. In this view it is clear that due its moderate anisotropy, optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7-δ is particularly suited to observe and check the consistency with 3D-XY critical behavior. In contrast to this, in highly anisotropic cuprates like Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ, it will be difficult to enter the regime where 3D fluctuations dominate . Nevertheless, since the critical behavior of the charged fixed point is the only alternative left, it becomes clear that even the intermediate critical behavior of highly anisotropic cuprates like Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8-δ falls into the 3D-XY universality class.

The melting transition of the vortex lattice was discovered in 1993 in Bi2.15Sr1.85CaCu2O8-δ using the $`\mu `$SR technique. An anomaly attributed to this transition was observed in specific heat measurements of YBa2Cu3O7-δ. In Fig.11 we depicted the temperature dependence of the specific heat coefficient of an untwinned YBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystal for various applied fields H$``$c. Of particular interest in this context is the small anomaly below the main peak, marked by the strength of the applied field. It is attributed to the vortex melting transition. Evidence for the first order nature of the transition stems from magnetization measurements, revealing a jump at $`H_m`$, which signals the singularity in the scaling function $`G_3^\pm (\stackrel{~}{z})`$ at $`\stackrel{~}{z}=\stackrel{~}{z}_m`$ (Eq.(26)).

Due to the first order nature of the transition, the correlation lengths remain bounded, so that the melting line $`H_{cm}`$ and the temperature $`T_P`$, where the broad peak in the specific heat coefficient adopts its maximum value, should scale according to Eqs.(30) and (31). A glance to Fig.12 shows that this behavior is experimentally well confirmed. Note that the variation of the amplitudes $`A_{cm}`$ and $`A_{cp}`$ is due to the doping dependence of $`\xi _{a,0}\xi _{b,0}`$ ( see Eqs.(30) and (31)). From Eq.(29) it is seen that the melting line also yields useful information on the anisotropy. As an example we consider the angular dependence in the (c,a) plane. Eq.(29) yields

$$H_m\left(\delta \right)=H_m\left(\delta =0\right)\gamma _{ca}\left(\mathrm{sin}^2\left(\delta \right)+\gamma _{ca}^2\mathrm{cos}^2\left(\delta \right)\right)^{1/2},\text{ }\gamma _{ca}=\frac{\xi _a}{\xi _c},H_m\left(\delta =0\right)\left(1T/T_c\right)^{2\nu }.$$
(32)
From Fig.13 it is seen that this behavior is well confirmed. In this context the question arises, whether or not phase coherence and with that superfluidity persists above the melting line. Recently, numerical simulations revealed that the vortex liquid is incoherent, i.e. phase coherence is destroyed in all directions, including the direction of the applied magnetic field, as soon as the vortex lattice melts.

To summarize, there is considerable evidence that the intermediate finite temperature critical behavior of cuprate superconductors, when attained, is equivalent to that of superfluid helium. Moreover, we saw that finite size scaling is a powerful tool to identify and characterize inhomogeneities.

## III Quantum critical behavior and crossover phenomena

### A Sketch of the scaling predictions

Given the empirical phase transition line $`T_c\left(x\right)`$ or surface $`T_c(x,y)`$ with critical endpoints or lines (see Figs.1 and 3) doping and substitution tuned quantum phase transitions can be expected. To invoke and sketch the scaling theory of quantum critical phenomena we define $`\delta `$, measuring the relative distance from quantum critical points, in terms of

$$\delta =\{\begin{array}{c}y=0:\delta =(xx_u)/x_u\\ y=0:\delta =(x_ox)/x_o\\ y0,x_uxx_o:\delta =(y_c\left(x\right)y)/y_c\left(x\right)\end{array}.$$
(33)
At $`T=0`$ and close to quantum criticality one has two kind of correlation lengths. The usual spatial correlation length in direction $`i`$

$$\overline{\xi }_i^{}=\overline{\xi }_{i,0}^{}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }}$$
(34)
and the temporal one

$`\overline{\xi }_\tau ^{}=\overline{\xi }_{\tau ,0}^{}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }_\tau },`$

where the dynamic critical exponent is defined as the ratio

$$z=\frac{\overline{\nu }_\tau }{\overline{\nu }}.$$
(35)
The singular part of the free energy density adopts then the scaling form

$$f_s(\delta ,T)=\overline{Q}_D\left(\overline{\xi }_{\tau ,0}^{}\underset{i=1}{\overset{D}{}}\overline{\xi }_{i,0}^{}\right)^1\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(D+z\right)}F_D\left(\overline{y}\right),\overline{y}=k_BT\overline{\xi }_\tau =k_BT\overline{\xi }_{\tau ,0}\delta ^{z\overline{\nu }},$$
(36)
where $`F_D\left(\overline{y}\right)`$ with $`F_D\left(\overline{y}=0\right)=1`$ is a universal scaling function and $`Q_D`$ a universal constant. Another quantity of interest is the helicity modulus which adopts the scaling form

$$\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_i^D(\delta ,T)=\overline{Q}_D\left(\overline{\xi }_{i,0}^{}\right)^2\left(\overline{\xi }_{\tau ,0}^{}\underset{i=1}{\overset{D}{}}\overline{\xi }_{i,0}^{}\right)^1\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(D2+z\right)}Y_D\left(\overline{y}\right),$$
(37)
where $`Y_D\left(\overline{y}\right)`$ with $`Y_D\left(y=0\right)=1`$ is a universal scaling function of its argument. As a first application we consider a line of finite temperature transitions $`T_c\left(\delta \right)`$ ending at a quantum critical point at $`T=0`$ and $`\delta =0`$. The scaling forms then require that

$$k_BT_c=\frac{\overline{y}_c}{\overline{\xi }_{\tau ,0}^{}}\delta ^{z\overline{\nu }},$$
(38)
where $`y_c`$ is the universal value of the scaling function argument at which the scaling functions exhibit a singularity at finite temperature. Combining Eqs.(37) and (38) we obtain in $`D=2`$

$$\frac{k_BT_c}{\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{ab}^{D=2}(\delta ,0)}=\overline{R}_2,\overline{R}_2=\frac{\overline{y}_c}{Y_2\left(\overline{y}_c\right)\overline{Q}_2},$$
(39)
yielding the universal relation

$$T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)=\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2\overline{R}_2}{16\pi ^3k_B}d_s,$$
(40)
between transition temperature and zero temperature in-plane penetration depth. $`d_s`$ denotes the thickness of the superconducting slab and $`\overline{R}_2`$ is a universal dimensionless constant. Analogously, in $`D=3`$ Eqs.(37) and (38) yield

$$\frac{k_BT_c}{\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{ab}^{D=3}(\delta ,0)}=\overline{R}_3\overline{\xi }_c^{},\overline{R}_3=\frac{\overline{y}_c}{Y_3\left(\overline{y}_c\right)\overline{Q}_3},$$
(41)
so that $`T_c`$, $`\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$, $`\overline{\xi }_c^{}`$ and $`\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}`$ are related by

$$T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)=\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2\overline{R}_3}{16\pi ^3k_B}\overline{\xi }_c^{}=\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2\overline{R}_3}{16\pi ^3k_B}\frac{\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}}{\gamma _{T=0}}.$$
(42)
This is just the quantum analogy of the universal finite temperature relation (23). When there is an anisotropy tuned 3D-2D crossover, where $`\gamma _{T=0}\mathrm{}`$, matching of Eqs.(40) and (42) requires that

$$\overline{R}_3\overline{\xi }_c^{}=\overline{R}_3\frac{\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}}{\gamma _{T=0}}=\overline{R}_2d_s.$$
(43)
Noting then that the universal relation (42) applies close to both, the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transition it is expected to provide useful information on the correlation lengths ( $`\overline{\xi }_c^{}`$, $`\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}`$), given experimental data for $`T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ and $`\gamma _{T=0}`$.

Moreover, useful scaling relations for the specific heat coefficient $`\gamma _c`$ are readily derived from the singular part of the free energy density (36), namely:

$$\gamma _c|_{T=0}=\frac{c}{T}|_{T=0}=\frac{^2f_s}{T^2}|_{T=0}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(Dz\right)}T_c^{\left(Dz\right)/z}H_c^{\left(Dz\right)/2},$$
(44)
since $`H_c`$ scales as $`H_c\left(\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}\right)^2`$, when applied parallel to the c-axis, and

$$\frac{d\gamma _c}{dT}|_{T=0}=\frac{d}{dT}\left(\frac{c}{T}\right)|_{T=0}=\frac{^3f_s}{T^3}|_{T=0}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(D2z\right)}T_c^{\left(D2z\right)/z}.$$
(45)
Finally, considering a 2D quantum critical points resulting from a 3D-2D crossover in the ground state, Eq.(43) implies that close to 2D quantum criticality the anisotropy diverges as

$$\gamma _{T=0}=\frac{\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}}{\overline{\xi }_c^{}}=\frac{\overline{R}_3\overline{\xi }_{ab,0}^{}}{\overline{R}_2d_s}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }}T_c^{1/z}.$$
(46)
Combining the scaling relations (38), (40), (43) and (46) a 2D quantum critical point resulting from a 3D-2D crossover is then characterized by

$$T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)n_s^{\mathrm{}}\left(0\right)\gamma _{T=0}^z\delta ^{z\overline{\nu }},\gamma _c|_{T=0}T_c^{\left(2z\right)/z}H_c^{\left(2z\right)/2}.$$
(47)
$`n_s^{\mathrm{}}\left(0\right)=\left(d_s/\lambda _{ab}^2(0)\right)`$ denotes aerial superfluid density. In particular it relates the superconducting properties to the anisotropy parameter, fixing the dimensionality of the system. It reveals that an anisotropy driven 3D-2D crossover destroys superconductivity even in the ground state.

From Eq.(42), rewritten in the form

$$\overline{\xi }_c^{}=\frac{16\pi ^3k_B}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2\overline{R}_3}T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right),\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}=\frac{16\pi ^3k_B}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2\overline{R}_3}T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)\gamma _{T=0},$$
(48)
it is seen that $`T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ and $`T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)\gamma _{T=0}`$ are appropriate indicators for the occurrence of quantum phase transitions. Close to 3D-QSN criticality $`\overline{\xi }_c^{}`$ and $`\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}`$ diverge according Eq.(34) as

$$\text{3D-QSN}:\overline{\xi }_c^{}\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }}T_c^{1/z},$$
(49)
because $`\gamma _{T=0}`$ remains finite. This differs from the 2D-QSI transition, where according to relation (46)

$$\text{2D-QSI}:\overline{\xi }_c^{}=\frac{\overline{R}_2}{\overline{R}_3}d_s,\overline{\xi }_{ab}^{}=\frac{\overline{R}_2}{\overline{R}_3}d_s\gamma _{T=0}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }}T_c^{1/z},$$
(50)
applies. Here $`\overline{\xi }_c^{}`$ tends to a finite value, proportional to the thickness $`d_s`$ of the sheets. valid for a 2D-XY - QSI transition. $`\rho _0`$ and $`\rho _{0c}`$ denote the residual and critical residual sheet resistivity.

Next we turn to the critical behavior of the conductivity. In the normal state and close to a 3D-XY critical point, the DC conductivities, parallel ($`\sigma _{ab}^{DC}`$) and perpendicular ($`\sigma _c^{DC}`$) to the layers, scale as

$$\sigma _{ab}^{DC}\frac{\xi _\tau }{\xi _c},\sigma _c^{DC}\frac{\xi _c\xi _\tau }{\xi _{ab}^2},$$
(51)
where $`\xi _\tau `$ is the correlation length associated with the finite temperature critical dynamics. At $`T_c`$ the ratio is then simply given by the anisotropy

$$\frac{\sigma _c^{DC}}{\sigma _{ab}^{DC}}=\left(\frac{\xi _c}{\xi _{ab}}\right)^2=\left(\frac{1}{\gamma _{T_c}}\right)^2.$$
(52)
Approaching 2D-QSI criticality, the scaling relation (47) implies

$$\gamma _{T_c}=\gamma _{T_c,0}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }}$$
(53)
Another essential property of this critical point is that for any finite $`T_c`$ the in-plane areal conductivity is always larger than

$$\sigma _{ab}^{DC}d_s=\sigma _0\frac{4e^2}{h}.$$
(54)
This follows from the fact that close to 2D-QSI the in-plane resistivity adopts the scaling form

$$\rho _{ab}=\frac{h}{4e^2\sigma _0}F\left(\overline{y}\right),\overline{y}=k_BT\overline{\xi }_\tau .$$
(55)
Thus, close to a 2D-QSI transition the normal state resistivity $`\rho _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)=1/\sigma _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)`$, evaluated close but slightly above $`T_c`$, is predicted to diverge as

$$\rho _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)=\gamma _{T_c}^2\frac{h}{4e^2\sigma _0}=\gamma _{T_c,0}^2\delta ^{2\overline{\nu }}\frac{h}{4e^2\sigma _0}.$$
(56)
$`F\left(y\right)`$ is a scaling function of its argument and $`F\left(0\right)=1`$. This behavior uncovers the 3D-2D crossover associated with the flow to 2D-QSI criticality in the normal state. To establish a relation between normal and superconducting properties, we express $`\delta `$ in terms of $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$. Using Eq.(47) we obtain

$$\lambda _c\left(0\right)=\mathrm{\Omega }_s\left(\sigma _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)\right)^{\left(2+z\right)/4},\mathrm{\Omega }_s=\gamma _{0,0}\lambda _{ab,0}\left(0\right)\left(\frac{4e^2\sigma _0}{h\gamma _{T_c,0}^2}\right)^{\left(2+z\right)/4},$$
(57)
where

$$\gamma _T=\gamma _{T,0}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }},\lambda _{ab,0}\left(0\right)=\lambda _{ab,0}\left(0\right)\delta ^{z\overline{\nu }/2},$$
(58)
are the zero temperature critical amplitudes. The scaling relation (57) differs from the mean-field prediction for bulk superconductors in the dirty limit  and layered BCS superconductors, treated as weakly coupled Josephson junction:

$$\lambda _c\left(0\right)=\mathrm{\Omega }_s\left(\sigma _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)\right)^{1/2},$$
(59)
where

$$\mathrm{\Omega }_s=\left(\frac{\mathrm{}c^2}{4\pi ^2\mathrm{\Delta }\left(0\right)}\right)^{1/2},\text{ }\mathrm{\Delta }\left(0\right)=1.76k_BT_c$$
(60)
and $`\mathrm{\Delta }\left(0\right)`$ denotes the zero temperature energy gap.

Approaching 3D-QSN criticality, the finite temperature relations (51) and (52) still apply, but both, $`\rho _c^{DC}`$ and $`\rho _{ab}^{DC}`$ diverge at $`T_c`$, while the anisotropy $`\gamma _{T_c}`$ remains finite. For this reason $`\xi _\tau `$, the correlation length associated with the finite temperature critical dynamics, cannot be eliminated. Nevertheless, since $`\xi _\tau `$ scales as, $`\xi _\tau \xi _{ab}^{z_{cl}}`$, where $`z_{cl}`$ is the critical exponent of the finite temperature dynamics, we obtain from Eq.(51) the relation

$$\sigma _c^{DC}\frac{\xi _c\xi _\tau }{\xi _{ab}^2}\frac{\xi _\tau }{\gamma _{T_c}\xi _{ab}}\xi _{ab}^{z_{cl}1}\xi _{ab,0}^{z_{cl}1}\left|t\right|^{\nu \left(z_{cl}1\right)},$$
(61)
valid close to 3D-XY critical points. Since close to a 3D-QSN criticality, the doping dependence of the finite temperature critical amplitude $`\xi _{ab,0}`$ is given by $`\overline{\xi }_{ab}`$ ( see Eqs.(23) and (42)), we finally obtain with $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)\delta ^{\frac{\overline{\nu }}{2}\left(1+z\right)}`$ (Eq.(37)) the relationship between $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$ and $`\sigma _c\left(T_c^+\right)`$ the relationship

$$\lambda _c\left(0\right)\left(\sigma _c\left(T_c^+\right)\right)^{\frac{1+z}{2\left(z_{cl}1\right)}},$$
(62)
characterizing the flow to a 3D-QSN critical point in the $`(\lambda _c\left(0\right),\sigma _c\left(T_c^+\right))`$ plane.

Noting that the in-plane resistivity tends close to 2D-QSI criticality to a fixed value (Eq.(55)), $`\rho _{ab}`$ can also be used as a parameter measuring the distance from the critical point. This is achieved by setting $`y=k_BT\overline{\xi }_\tau T\delta ^{z\overline{\nu }}T\left(\left(\rho _{ab}^0\rho _{ab}\right)/\rho _{ab}^0\right)^{z\overline{\nu }}`$. Given then a transition line $`T_c\left(\delta \right)`$ ending at the 2D-QSN critical point the scaling form (55) requires that

$$T_c\left(\frac{\rho _{ab}^0\rho _{ab}}{\rho _{ab}^0}\right)^{z\overline{\nu }},\rho _{ab}^0=\frac{h}{4e^2\sigma _0}$$
(63)
because the scaling function $`F\left(y\right)`$ exhibits a singularity at $`y_c`$, signaling the finite temperature transition line.

### B Evidence for chemically doping tuned quantum phase transitions

The empirical correlations between $`T_c`$, dopant concentration $`x`$ and anisotropy $`\gamma _T`$ (Eqs.(1)-(3)) clearly point to the existence of quantum critical endpoints. A glance to Fig.2 shows, when $`T_c`$ vanishes in the underdoped limit, the anisotropy $`\gamma _T`$ tends to infinity. Accordingly a 2D-QSI transition is expected to occur. In the overdoped limit, $`T_c`$ vanishes again but the finite anisotropy implies a 3D-QSN transition. Since the aforementioned empirical correlations turned out to be remarkably generic (see Fig.2) they appear to reflect universal properties characterizing these quantum phase transitions. Indeed, the empirical correlation (1) points with the scaling law (38) to $`z\overline{\nu }=1`$ in both transitions. Moreover, the empirical relation between $`T_c`$ and $`\gamma _T`$ (3) implies according to the scaling law (46) a 2D-QSI transition with $`\overline{\nu }=1`$. Thus, the universality classes emerging from the empirical relations are characterized by the critical exponents:

$$\text{2D-QSI}:z=1,\overline{\nu }=1,$$
(64)
$$\text{3D-QSN}:z\overline{\nu }=1.$$
(65)
These 2D-QSI exponents are consistent with the theoretical prediction for a 2D disordered bosonic system with long-range Coulomb interaction. Here the loss of superfluidity is due to the localization of the pairs, which is ultimately responsible for the transition. A potential candidate for the 3D-QSN transition is the Ginzburg-Landau theory proposed by Herbut . It describes a disordered d-wave superconductor to metal transition at weak coupling and is characterized by the critical exponents $`z=2`$ and $`\overline{\nu }=1/2`$, except in an exponentially narrow region. Since the resulting $`z\overline{\nu }`$ coincides with the value implied by the empirical correlation (1), one expects with the estimate (65),

$$\text{3D-QSN}:z=2,\overline{\nu }=1/2.$$
(66)
A characteristic property of a 2D-QSI transition, irrespective of the value of $`z\overline{\nu }`$, is the universal relation (40) between transition temperature and zero temperature penetration depth. An instructive example is the onset of superfluidity in 4He films adsorbed on disordered substrates, where the linear relationship between $`T_c`$ and aerial superfluid density $`n_s^{\mathrm{}}\left(0\right)d_s/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ is well confirmed. In cuprates, a nearly linear relationship between $`T_c`$ and $`\lambda _{ab}\left(T=0\right)^2`$ has been established some time ago by Uemura et al. . In the present context, it is not strictly universal, because $`d_s`$, the thickness of the independent slabs, is known to adopt family dependent values. This fact can be anticipated from Fig.14, showing experimental data for $`T_c`$ versus $`1/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(T=0\right)`$ of La2-xSrxCuO4 , YBa2Cu3O7-δ  and Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O6.97 . With $`T_c`$ in K and $`\lambda _{ab}(T=0)`$ in A, the dashed and solid straight lines correspond to

$$T_c\frac{\mathrm{3.2\; 10}^8}{\lambda _{ab}^2\left(T=0\right)},\frac{\mathrm{2.5\; 10}^8}{\lambda _{ab}^2\left(T=0\right)}.$$
(67)
Invoking then the universal relation (40) we obtain the estimate,

$$\frac{d_s\left(\text{YBa}_2\text{Cu}_3\text{O}_{7\delta }\right)}{d_s\left(\text{La}_{2x}\text{Sr}_x\text{CuO}_4\right)}\frac{3.2}{2.5}1.3,$$
(68)
which is consistent with , $`d_s\left(\text{YBa}_2\text{Cu}_3\text{O}_{7\delta }\right)/d_s\left(\text{La}_{2x}\text{Sr}_x\text{CuO}_4\right)10.1A/7.6A1.33`$, derived from the thickness tuned QSI transition and the crossing point phenomenon, respectively . Consequently, $`dT_c/d(1/\lambda _{}^2(T=0))`$ is not strictly universal. Nevertheless, due to the small variations of $`d_s`$ within a family of cuprates it adopts there a nearly unique value. For this reason the empirical proportionality of $`T_c`$ and $`\lambda _{ab}\left(T=0\right)^2`$ for underdoped members of a given family confirms the flow to 2D-QSI criticality.

Next we turn to the behavior of the resistivity close to 2D-QSI criticality. In Fig.15 we displayed the data of Semba and Matsuda  for the temperature dependence of the in-plane resistivity $`\rho _{ab}`$ of YBa2Cu3Oy at various dopant concentrations $`y`$. Below $`y6.3`$ the resistivity increases with decreasing temperature, signaling the onset of insulating behavior in the zero temperature limit. Above $`y6.3`$ and as the temperature is reduced, the resistivity drops rapidly and vanishes at and below $`T_c`$. Thus, for $`y6.3`$ there is a superconducting phase and the 2D-QSI-transition occurs at $`y6.3`$. Moreover, the temperature dependence of $`\rho _c/\rho _{ab}`$, depicted in Fig.15, is in accord with the scaling relations (38) and (52), yielding $`\rho _c/\rho _{ab}=\gamma _{T_c}^2\delta ^{2\overline{\nu }}T_c^{2/z}`$. Indeed, the anisotropy increases by approaching the 2D-QSI transition. In contrast, near the 2D-QSI transition ($`y6.3`$), there is a finite threshold in-plane resistivity $`\rho _{ab}^{th}`$ $`0.8m\mathrm{\Omega }cm`$ (see Fig.15). According to the scaling relation (54) this is a characteristic feature of a 2D-QSI transition. For $`d_s11.8A`$ and $`\sigma _01`$ this leads to the sheet resistance $`\rho _{ab}^{th}/d_sh/\left(4e^2\right)6.5k\mathrm{\Omega }`$. Since $`\rho _c\gamma ^2\rho _{ab}`$ and $`\rho _{ab}^{th}d_sh/\left(4e^2\right)`$ it also becomes evident that the rise of $`\rho _c`$ for $`T>T_c`$ simply reflects the increasing anisotropy and with that the flow to 2D-QSI criticality. Together with the doping dependence of $`\gamma _{Tc}`$ (see Figs.1 and 2), these features clearly confirm the occurrence of a 2D-QSI transition.

According to Eqs.(40) and (63)a 2D-QSI-transition is also characterized by the scaling relation

$$k_BT_c=c\left(\frac{\rho _{0c}\rho _0}{\rho _{0c}}\right)^{z\overline{\nu }}=\frac{\mathrm{\Phi }_0^2}{16\pi ^3\overline{Q}_2}\frac{d_s}{\lambda _{ab}^2(T=0)},$$
(69)
where $`\rho _0`$ and $`\rho _{0c}`$ denote the residual and critical residual sheet resistivity, respectively. This prediction is well confirmed by the data of Fukuzumi et al. for Zn-substituted La2-xSrxCuO4 and YBa2Cu3O7-δ  displayed in Fig.16. Approaching the underdoped limit the data merge on a straight line. With the scaling relation (69) this points to $`z\overline{\nu }=1`$ consistent with the value emerging from the empirical correlations (Eq.(64)).

Next we turn to the isotope effect. Since universal relations like (18), (23) and (40) should apply irrespective of the doping and substitution level, the isotope effects on the quantities involved, are not independent. As an example we consider the universal relation (40), predicting that close to the 2D-QSI transition the isotope effect on transition temperature and zero temperature in-plane penetration depth are related by

$$\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }T_c}{T_c}=\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }\left(1/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)\right)}{1/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)},$$
(70)
where $`\mathrm{\Delta }\left(B\right)`$ denotes the shift of $`B`$ upon isotope substitution. Although the available experimental data on identical samples are rather sparse, the results shown in Fig.17 for the oxygen isotope effect in La2-xSrxCu1-xO4  and Y$`{}_{1x}{}^{}\mathrm{Pr}_{x}^{}`$Ba2Cu3O7 clearly reveal the crossover to the asymptotic 2D-QSI behavior marked by the straight line. An essential result is that the flow to 2D-QSI criticality implies that the isotope coefficients

$$\beta _{T_c}=\frac{m}{T_c}\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }T_c}{\mathrm{\Delta }m},\beta _\lambda =\frac{m}{T_c}\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }\left(1/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)\right)}{\mathrm{\Delta }m},$$
(71)
diverge. Some insight is obtained by noting that in the doping regime of interest, isotope substitution does not affect the dopant and substitution concentrations. . In contrast it lowers the transition temperature and shifts the underdoped limit $`x_u`$. From the relation $`T_c=a\delta ^{z\overline{\nu }}`$ (Eq.(38)), yielding

$$\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }T_c}{T_c}=\frac{z\overline{\nu }}{x/x_u1}\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }x_u}{x_u},$$
(72)
we obtain for the isotope coefficient the expression

$$\beta _{T_c}=\frac{1}{\overline{r}}\left(\frac{T_c\left(x_m\right)}{T_c}\right)^{1/z\overline{\nu }},\frac{1}{\overline{r}}=z\overline{\nu }\frac{m}{\mathrm{\Delta }m}\frac{\mathrm{\Delta }x_u}{x_u}\left(\frac{a}{T_c\left(x_m\right)}\right)^{1/z\overline{\nu }},$$
(73)
applicable close to the 2D-QSI transition. Here we rescaled $`T_c`$ by $`T_c\left(x_m\right)`$, the transition temperature at optimum doping, to reduce variations of $`T_c`$ between different materials . In Fig.18 we show the experimental data for Y$`{}_{1x}{}^{}\mathrm{Pr}_{x}^{}`$Ba2Cu3O7 , La1.85Sr0.15Cu1-xNixO4  and YBa2-xLaxCu3O7  in terms of $`1/\beta _{T_c}`$ versus $`T_c/T\left(x_m\right)`$. As predicted by Eq.(73), approaching the 2D-QSI transition $`T_c/T_c\left(x_m\right)=0`$, the data collapse on a straight line, pointing again to $`z\overline{\nu }1`$(Eq.(64)). Accordingly, the strong doping dependence of the isotope coefficients of transition temperature and zero temperature in-plane penetration depth in underdoped cuprates follows naturally from the doping tuned 3D-2D crossover and the associated 2D-QSI transition in the underdoped limit. One might hope that this novel point of view about the isotope effects in cuprate superconductors  will stimulate further experimental work to obtain new data to confirm or refute these predictions.

A property suited to shed light on the critical behavior of both, the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transition is the magnetic field dependence of the specific heat coefficient in the limit of zero temperature. From the scaling relation $`\gamma _c|_{T=0}H_c^{\left(Dz\right)/2}`$ (Eq.(44)) it is seen that for both transition $`\gamma _c|_{T=0}H_c^{1/2}`$ holds, provided that $`z=1`$ and $`z=2`$ at 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality, respectively. The experimental data displayed in Fig.19 shows that in La2-xSrxCuO4 $`\left(Dz\right)/2=1/2`$ holds irrespective of the doping level. Thus these data provide rather unambiguous evidenced for a 2D-QSI transition with $`z=1`$ and a 3D-QSN criticality with $`z=2`$. This implies that $`\gamma _c|_{T=0}H_c^{1/2}`$ is not a characteristic feature of d-wave pairing, as proposed by Volovik, Won and Maki.

The above comparison with experiment provides rather clear evidence for the occurrence of a 2D-QSI transition with $`z=1`$ and $`\overline{\nu }=1`$ in the underdoped and a 3D-QSI critical point $`z=2`$ and $`\overline{\nu }=1/2`$ in the overdoped limit. Next, to substantiate this scenario further, we consider the crossover between these quantum critical points. Noting that $`1/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ scales close to these critical points as (Eq.(37))

$$\frac{1}{\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)}\mathrm{{\rm Y}}_{ab}^D\left(0\right)\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(\left(D2+z\right)\right)},$$
(74)
we invoke

$$\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)=\frac{a_\lambda }{xx_u}+\frac{b_\lambda }{\left(x_ox\right)^{3/2}},$$
(75)
to interpolate between the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transition. A fit to the experimental data of La2-xSrxCuO4, yielding the parameters

$$a_\lambda =\mathrm{5.42\; 10}^5A^2,b_\lambda =\mathrm{6.9\; 10}^3A^2,$$
(76)
is shown Fig.20.

It is remarkable that this simple interpolation scheme, reducing in the under- and overdoped limit to the expected asymptotic behavior, describes the data so well. Due to this agreement, this interpolation function provides in conjunction with the empirical law for $`T_c\left(x\right)`$ (Eq.(1)), a realistic description of the doping dependence of the zero temperature out-of-plane correlation length $`\overline{\xi }_c`$, given by Eq.(48), yielding $`\overline{\xi }_c^{}T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$, close to 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality. The doping dependence of $`T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ is displayed in Fig.21 for La2-xSrxCuO4. Since $`T_cd_s/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ holds in the underdoped limit (see Eq.(40) and Fig.14), it is clear that $`T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ tends to a constant value, proportional to $`d_s`$, the thickness of the independent sheets. Since initially $`d/dx\left(T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)\right)T_c\left(x_m\right)a_\lambda x_o`$, the linear decrease simply reflects the parabolic form of the empirical law (1). Finally, the upturn close to the overdoped limit, a regime which experimentally has not yet been attained, signals the 3D-QSN transition, where $`\overline{\xi }_cT_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ diverges. In this context it is also instructive to consider the zero temperature in-plane correlation length. By definition it diverges at a 2D and 3D quantum phase transition. According to the scaling relation (48) it can be measured in terms of $`\overline{\xi }_{ab}T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)\gamma _{T=0}`$. In Fig.21 we displayed the experimental data for $`\overline{\xi }_{ab}T_c\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)\gamma _{T=0}`$ versus $`x`$. For comparison we included the behavior resulting from Eqs.(1), (2),(74) and (75) in terms of the solid curve. While the rise of $`\overline{\xi }_{ab}`$ in the underdoped regime, signaling the occurrence of a 2D-QSI transition, is well confirmed, it does not extend sufficiently close to the overdoped limit to detect 3D-QSN criticality. From Fig.22, showing the doping dependence of the $`T`$-linear term of the specific heat coefficient of La2-xSrxCuO4, it is seen that this quantity tends to a finite value in the underdoped limit and increases in the overdoped regime. This behavior is fully consistent with the scaling relation $`d\gamma _c/dT|_{T=0}\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(D2z\right)}`$ (Eq.(45)). Indeed at 2D-QSI criticality with $`z=1`$, $`d\gamma _c/dT|_{T=0}`$ tends to a constant value and diverges close to the 3D-QSN critical point for $`z>3/2`$. Unfortunately, the data does not extend sufficiently close to the overdoped limit to provide reliable estimates of the exponent combination $`\overline{\nu }\left(32z\right)`$.

Provided that the linear T-term of $`1/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(T\right)`$ in the zero temperature limit exists, the scaling relations (37) and (38) yield close to quantum criticality the universal relation

$$T_c\frac{d}{dT}\left(\frac{\lambda _i(0)}{\lambda _i(T)}\right)^2|_{T=0}=\overline{y}_c\frac{dY_D}{d\overline{y}}|_{\overline{y}=0},$$
(77)
where D=2 and D=3 for the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transition, respectively. In Table I we collected additional estimates for various cuprates and doping levels. The rise of the magnitude of $`T_cd/dT\left(\lambda _{ab}(\delta ,0)/\lambda _i(\delta ,T)\right)^2|_{T=0}`$ with increasing doping level reflects the 2D-3D-crossover in the scaling function $`Y_D`$. Noting that most compounds are close to optimum doping it is not surprising that the listed values scatter around -0.61, the value of nearly optimally doped La2-xSrxCuO4.

|  | $`\lambda _{ab}\left(0\right)`$ (A) | Tc (K) | $`T_c\frac{d}{dT}\left(\frac{\lambda _i(\delta ,0)}{\lambda _i(\delta ,T)}\right)^2|_{T=0}`$ |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ | 1770 | 135 | -0.59 |
| HgBa2CuO4+δ | 1710 | 93 | -0.65 |
| La1.9Sr0.1CuO4 | 2800 | 30 | -0.49 |
| La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 | 2600 | 39 | -0.61 |
| La1.8Sr0.2CuO4 | 1970 | 35 | -0.72 |
| La1.78Sr0.22CuO4 | 1930 | 27.5 | -0.72 |
| La1.76Sr0.24CuO4 | 1940 | 19 | -0.94 |
| Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ | 2600 | 91 | -0.61 |
| Y0.94Ca0.06Ba2Cu4O8 | 1361 | 88 | -0.51 |
| YBa2Cu4O8 | 1383 | 81 | -0.58 |
| YBa1.925La0.075Cu4O8 | 1521 | 74 | -0.61 |
| YBa1.9La0.1Cu4O8 | 1593 | 72 | -0.63 |

Table I: Estimates for $`T_cd/dT\left(\lambda _{ab}\left(0\right)/\lambda _{ab}\left(T\right)\right)^2|_{T=0}`$ derived from the experimental data of: slightly underdoped HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ, slightly overdoped HgBa2CuO4+δ , under-, optimally- and over-doped La2-xSrxCuO4 , Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ , Y0.94Ca0.6Ba2Cu4O8, YBa2Cu4O8, Y1.925La0.075Cu4O8 and Y1.9La0.1Cu4O8 .

Before turning to the substitution tuned quantum transitions it is useful to express the doping dependence in the interpolation formula (75) in terms of the transition temperature. This is achieved by invoking the empirical correlation 1 between $`T_c`$ and doping concentration $`x`$ . In Fig.23 we displayed the resulting Uemura plot, $`T_c`$ versus $`1/\lambda _{ab}^2\left(0\right)`$ for La2-xSrxCuO4 in terms of the solid and dashed curves, resembling the outline of a fly’s wing. The solid curve marks the flow from $`T_c\left(x_m\right)`$ to the 2D-QSI critical point and the dashed one the flow to 3D-QSN criticality. The dotted line indicates the universal 2D-behavior (Eqs.(40)) and (67)). For comparison we included the experimental data of Panagopoulos et al. and Uemura et al.. Although the data does not attain the respective critical regimes, together with the theoretical curves, they provide a generic perspective of the flow to 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality. Indeed convincing evidence for these flows emerges from the $`\mu `$SR data displayed in Fig.24 for Y0.8Ca0.2Ba2(Cu1-yZny)O7-δ (Y0.8Ca0.2-123), Tl0.5-yPb0.5+ySr2Ca1-xYxCu2O7 (Tl-1212)  and TlBa2CuO$`{}_{6+\delta }{}^{}\left(\text{Tl-2201}\right)`$ . In analogy to Fig.23, the solid curves mark the flow from $`T_c\left(x_m\right)`$ to the 2D-QSI critical point and the dashed ones the approach to 3D-QSN criticality.

A generic flow to the 2D-QSI critical point also emerges from the plot $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$ versus $`\sigma _c\left(T_c^+\right)`$ displayed in Fig.25 for YBa2Cu3O7-δ, La2-xSrxCuO4 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy at various doping levels. An empirical, nearly linear, correlation between these quantities has been proposed by Basov et al. From the scaling relation (57) it is seen that the systematic rise of $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$ with decreasing $`\sigma _c\left(T_c^+\right)`$, tuned by decreasing dopant concentration and the associated rise of the anisotropy $`\gamma _T`$, reflects again the flow to 3D-QSI criticality. The straight line marks the asymptotic behavior La2-xSrxCuO4 for $`z=1`$ and $`\mathrm{\Omega }_s24\mu m\left(\mathrm{\Omega }cm\right)^{3/4}`$. Since $`\mathrm{\Omega }_s`$ depends on the critical amplitudes $`\gamma _{0,0}`$, $`\lambda _{ab,0}\left(0\right)`$, $`\gamma _{T_c,0}`$ and the thickness $`d_s`$ (Eqs.(57) and (58)), its value is unique within a family of cuprates. $`\mathrm{\Omega }_s24\mu m\left(\mathrm{\Omega }cm\right)^{3/4}`$ follows from $`\gamma _{0,0}1.63`$, $`\gamma _{T_c,0}2`$ (see Fig.1), $`d_s6.6A`$, $`\sigma _01`$ and $`\lambda _{ab,0}\left(0\right)736A`$ (Eq.(76). Although the experimental data is still quite far from the underdoped limit, the flow to 2D-QSI criticality with family dependent values of $`\mathrm{\Omega }_s`$ can be anticipated. This differs from the mean-field prediction for bulk superconductors in the dirty limit and layered BCS superconductors, treated as weakly coupled Josephson junctions (see Eqs.(59) and (60)) where $`\mathrm{\Omega }_sT_c^{1/2}`$. Moreover, as the optimally doped and underdoped regimes are approached, systematic deviations from the straight line behavior appear, indicating the flow to 3D-QSN-criticality (Eq.(62)).

According to the empirical correlation between $`T_c`$ and anisotropy $`\gamma _T`$ (see Eq.(3) and Fig.2), the initial value of the dopant concentration determines whether the flow leads to 2D-QSI or 3D-QSN criticality. For initially underdoped cuprates, the rise of $`\gamma _T`$ , tuned by the doping induced reduction of $`T_c`$, directs the flow to 2D-QSI criticality. Conversely, in initially overdoped cuprates, the fall of $`\gamma _T`$ to a finite value drives the flow to the 3D-QSN critical point. As the nature of the quantum phase transitions is concerned we have seen that the 2D-QSI transition has a rather wide and experimentally accessible critical region. For this reason we observed considerable and consistent evidence that it falls into the same universality class as the onset of superfluidity in 4He films in disordered media, corrected for the long-rangeness of the Coulomb interaction. The resulting critical exponents, $`z=1`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1`$, are also consistent with the empirical relations (Eqs.(1), (2) and (3)) and the observed temperature and magnetic field dependence of the specific heat coefficient in the limit of zero temperature. These properties also point to a 3D-QSN transition with $`z=2`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1/2`$, describing a d-wave superconductor to disordered metal transition at weak coupling. Here the disorder destroys superconductivity, while at the 2D-QSI transition it localizes the pairs and with that destroys superfluidity. Due to the existence of the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN critical points, the detection of finite temperature 3D-XY critical behavior will be hampered by the associated crossovers which reduce the temperature regime where thermal 3D-XY fluctuations dominate. In any case, our analysis clearly revealed that the universality of the empirical correlations reflect the flow to 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality. Moreover, the doping tuned superconductivity in bulk cuprate superconductors turned out to be a genuine 3D phenomenon, where the interplay of anisotropy and superconductivity destroys the latter in the 2D limit.

### C Evidence for substitution tuned quantum phase transitions

It is well established, both experimentally and theoretically, that in conventional superconductors (e.g., A15 compounds or the Chevrel phases) the presence of magnetic impurities depresses the superconducting transition temperature more efficiently than does the introduction of nonmagnetic ions , and this has been ascribed to the breaking of pairs by the magnetic impurities. To determine wether the cuprates behave similarly with respect to magnetic impurities, extensive studies involving the substitution for Cu by other 3d metals have been performed . A result common to all these studies is that $`T_c`$ is depressed in the same manner, independent of wether the substituent is magnetic or nonmagnetic, and in contrast to that observed in conventional superconductors.

To illustrate this point we depicted in Fig.26, the variation of $`T_c`$ with substitution for La1.95Sr0.15Cu1-yAyO4 (A=Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Ga and Al) . $`T_c`$ is seen to vanish at a critical substitution concentration $`y_c`$, where a quantum phase transition occurs. The experimental data for La2-xSrxCu1-yZnyO4, Y0.8Ca0.2Ba2Cu3-3yZn3yO7-δ  and Bi2Sr2CaCu2-2yCo2yO8+δ  shows that this behavior is not restricted to optimum doping. Thus $`T_c`$ dependence on both, the dopant ($`x`$) and substitution concentration ($`y`$). Fig.3 shows the resulting ($`T_c,x,y`$) diagram for La2-xSrxCu1-yZnyO4. The blue curve, $`y_c\left(x\right)`$, is a line of quantum phase transitions. At the corresponding critical endpoints the system undergoes a 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transition. Along the path marked by the green arrow, a QSI and QSN transition is expected to occur. The pink arrow indicates the crossover from insulating to metallic behavior.

This scenario, emerging from the temperature dependence of the resistivity of La2-xSrxCu1-yZnyO4, is shown in Fig.27. Along the phase transition line $`y_c\left(x\right)`$ superconductivity disappears and for $`x0.16`$ metallic behavior sets in, while for $`x0.16`$ the resistivity exhibits insulating behavior at low temperatures. For fixed $`x`$ and close to $`y_c\left(x\right)`$, $`T_c`$ scales according to Eqs.(33) and (38) as

$$T_c\left(y\right)\left(1\frac{y}{y_c\left(x\right)}\right)^{z\overline{\nu }}.$$
(78)
Since $`z\overline{\nu }=1`$ is expected to hold in both, the doping tuned 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transition (Eqs.(64) and (66)), this combination should hold along the entire line $`y_c\left(x\right)`$. Although the data shown in Fig.26 is remarkably consistent with $`z\overline{\nu }=1`$ it remains to be understood, why the linear relationship applies almost over the entire substitution regime. Close to the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transitions, the singular part of the free energy density scales in analogy to Eq.(36) as

$$f_s\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(D+z\right)}\left(y\delta ^{\overline{\nu }}\right),\delta =x/x_u1,1x/x_o.$$
(79)
$``$ is a scaling function of its argument. A phase transition is signaled by a singularity of the scaling function at some value of its argument. Thus,

$$y_c\left(x\right)\delta ^{\overline{\nu }},$$
(80)
with $`\overline{\nu }=1`$ close to the 2D-QSI (Eqs.(64)) and $`\overline{\nu }=1/2`$ near the 3D-QSN transition(Eq.(66)). The resulting phase transition line is shown in Fig.28 for La2-xSrxCu1-yZnyO4, where we included the experimental data for comparison. As expected from the doping dependence of the correlation lengths (see Fig.21) $`y_c\left(x\right)`$ exhibits close to the 3D-QSN transition a very narrow critical regime. For this reason the data considered here is insufficient to provide an estimate for $`\overline{\nu }`$ . Nevertheless, $`\overline{\nu }=1/2`$ yields a reasonable qualitative description of the quantum critical line $`y_c\left(x\right)`$.

The picture we no have is summarized in the phase diagram shown in Fig.3. The blue curve corresponds to the line of quantum phase transitions $`y_c\left(x\right)`$ shown in Fig.28. Along this line, $`z\overline{\nu }=1`$ is expected to hold (Eqs.(64) and (66)), while $`\overline{\nu }1`$(Eqs.(64)) at the 2D-QSI ($`y=0`$ and $`x=x_u`$) and $`\overline{\nu }=1/2`$ at the 3D-QSN (($`y=0`$ and $`x=x_o`$) transition. According to the empirical correlation between $`T_c`$ and anisotropy $`\gamma _T`$ (see Eq.(3) and Fig.2), the initial value of the dopant concentration determines whether the flow upon substitution leads to 2D-QSI or 3D-QSN criticality. For initially underdoped cuprates, the rise of $`\gamma _T`$ , tuned by the substitution induced reduction of $`T_c`$, drives the flow to 2D-QSI criticality. Conversely, in initially overdoped cuprates, the fall of $`\gamma _T`$ to a finite value directs the flow to 3D-QSN criticality. The mechanism whereby the substitution of Cu leads to a reduction of $`T_c`$ and finally to the quantum critical line $`y_c\left(x\right)`$ appears to be not well understood. When the aforementioned universality classes of the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transitions hold true (Eqs.(64) and (66)), disorder plays an essential role. At 2D-QSI criticality it localizes the pairs and destroys superfluidity and at the 3D-QSN transition it destroys superfluidity and the pairs. In this context we also note that the phase diagram of La2-xSrxCuO4+δ shown in Fig.4, reveals that isotope substitution leads to identical behavior, although less pronounced . Since isotope substitution is accompanied by local lattice distortions, we conclude that in addition to disorder, lattice degrees of freedom tune superconductivity in an essential manner. Another essential facet emerges from the fact that the doping and substitution tuned flow to the 2D-QSI critical point is associated with an enhancement of $`\gamma _T`$. Thus, despite the fact that the fraction $`\eta =\left(1/\lambda _c^2\left(0\right)\right)/\left(1/\lambda _a^2\left(0\right)+1/\lambda _b^2\left(0\right)+1/\lambda _c^2\left(0\right)\right)=1/\left(1+2\gamma _{T=0}^2\right)`$, which the third dimension contributes to the superfluid energy density in the ground state, is very small, this implies that a finite $`T_c`$ is inevitably associated with an anisotropic but 3D condensation mechanism, because $`\gamma _T`$ is finite whenever superconductivity occurs (see Fig.2). This points unambiguously to the conclusion that theories formulated for a single CuO2 plane cannot be the whole story. It does not imply, however, a 3D pairing mechanism because in the presence of fluctuations pairing and superfluidity occur separately.

### D Evidence for magnetic field tuned quantum phase transitions

We have seen (Sec.IIB) that a strong magnetic field destroys superconductivity at finite temperature. In sufficiently clean systems this destruction occurs at the first order vortex melting transition. However, in the presence of disorder, the long-range order of the vortex lattice is destroyed and the vortex solid becomes a glass. The vortex fluid to glass transition appears to be a second-order transition, signaled by the vanishing of the zero-frequency resistance in the vortex glass phase. Since disorder plays an essential role at 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality, one expects a line $`H_m\left(x\right)`$ of vortex-glass to fluid quantum phase transitions, leading to the schematic phase diagram depicted in Fig.5.There is the superconducting phase (S), bounded by the zero-field transition line, $`T_c\left(x,H=0\right)`$, the critical lines of the vortex melting or vortex glass to vortex fluid transitions, $`T_m\left(x=fixed,H\right)`$ and the line of quantum critical points, $`H_m\left(x,T=0\right)`$. Along this line superconductivity is suppressed and the critical endpoints coincide with the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN critical points at $`x_u`$ and $`x_o`$, respectively. To fix the critical line $`H_m\left(x,T=0\right)`$ close to the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN transitions, we note that the singular part of the ground state energy density scales in analogy to Eq.(36) as

$$f_s(\delta ,T)=\overline{Q}_D\left(\overline{\xi }_{\tau ,0}^{}\underset{i=1}{\overset{D}{}}\overline{\xi }_{i,0}^{}\right)^1\delta ^{\overline{\nu }\left(D+z\right)}\overline{G}_D\left(\overline{z}\right),\overline{z}=\frac{H\overline{\xi }_a\overline{\xi }_b}{\mathrm{\Phi }_0}$$
(81)
where $`H`$ corresponds to a field applied parallel to the $`c`$-axis. Supposing that in the ($`H,\delta `$)-plane there is a continuous transition first order melting transition. Then the scaling function $`\overline{G}_D\left(\overline{z}\right)`$ will exhibit a singularity at some universal value $`\overline{z}=\overline{z}_m`$ . Thus close the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN critical endpoints the quantum critical line (see Fig.5) is given by,

$$H_m\left(\delta \right)=\frac{\overline{z}_m\mathrm{\Phi }_0}{\xi _{a,0}\xi _{b,0}}\delta ^{2\overline{\nu }},$$
(82)
with $`\overline{\nu }1`$ (Eq.(64)) and $`\overline{\nu }1/2`$ (Eq.(66)) close to 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality, respectively. Moreover, the singular behavior of the scaling function $`\overline{G}_D\left(\overline{z}\right)`$ must be such as enable the correlation length when $`H0`$ to correspond to the vortex glass transition, so that

$$\overline{\xi }_H=\overline{\xi }_{H,0}\left|\frac{HH_m\left(\delta \right)}{H_m\left(\delta \right)}\right|^{\overline{\nu }_m}.$$
(83)
$`\overline{\nu }_m`$ is the correlation length exponent of the vortex glass to fluid transition. Noting that $`T_c\delta ^{\overline{\nu }z}\xi ^z`$ (see Eqs.(34) and (38), we obtain with Eq.(83) for the magnetic field induced reduction of $`T_c`$ the relation

$$T_c\left(H\right)\left(H_m\left(\delta \right)H\right)^{\overline{\nu }_mz_m}.$$
(84)
$`z_m`$ is the dynamic critical exponent of the vortex glass to fluid transition.

The existence of a quantum phase transition line $`H_m\left(\delta \right)`$ can be anticipated from the in-plane resistivity data for YBa2Cu3-zZnzOy of Segawa et al.  shown in the left panel of Fig.29. With increasing magnetic field strength $`T_c`$ is depressed. In the sample with $`y=6.7`$ and $`z=2.7\%`$ the temperature dependence of $`\rho _{ab}`$ clearly points to a magnetic field tuned QSI transition around $`16<H_m\left(y=6.7,z=2.7\%\right)18T`$. Since $`H_m\left(\delta \right)`$ scales as $`\delta ^{2\overline{\nu }}\left(z_cz\right)^{2\overline{\nu }}`$(Eq.(82)), $`H_m\left(y=6.7,z\right)`$ should increase with reduced Zn concentration $`z`$. This behavior is consistent with the data for $`z=2.3\%`$, where $`H_m\left(y=6.7,z=2.3\%\right)>18T`$. The emerging ($`H,T`$) phase diagram, consisting of finite temperature transition lines (vortex glass to fluid transitions) with 2D-QSI critical endpoints is displayed in the right panel of Fig.29. In the schematic ($`x,H,T`$)-phase diagram shown in Fig.5, these lines result from cuts near the zero field 2D-QSI-transition with $`x`$ replaced by $`z`$.

Related behavior was also observed in La2-xSrxCuO4  and Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ . In the hole doped La2-xSrxCuO4  and the electron doped $`\mathrm{Pr}_{2x}`$CexCu4+δ a magnetic field tuned metal to insulator crossover was observed close to optimum doping, while in Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ  the crossover sets in well inside the underdoped regime. The phase diagram of Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ is displayed in the left panel of Fig.30. In the underdoped limit ($`x0.84`$ ) the transition temperature vanishes and a 2D-QSI transition is expected to occur. Evidence for this transition emerges from the temperature dependence of $`\rho _{ab}`$ shown in the right panel of Fig.30, taken at $`H=0`$ and $`60T`$ for six doping levels $`x`$. To strengthen this point we plotted in Fig. 31 the resulting $`T_c`$ versus $`\rho _{0,c}\rho _0`$ for $`x=0.76,0.73`$ and $`0.66`$ and $`\rho _{0,c}0.5`$ $`m\mathrm{\Omega }cm`$ at $`H=0`$. Apparently there is suggestive consistency with the 2D-QSI scaling relation (42) with $`z\overline{\nu }1`$, as well as with the corresponding data for La2-xSrxCuO$`_4`$ and YBa2Cu3O7-δ shown in Fig.16. As the $`60T`$ data (symbols) are concerned, the samples closest to the QSI transition ($`x=0.76`$ and $`0.84`$) exhibit in $`\rho _{ab}`$ a pronounced upturn at low temperatures. This points to an insulating normal state. Indeed, the weak upturn below $`6`$ $`K`$ at $`x=0.73`$, visible in the inset to Fig.30, signals the proximity to the onset of insulating behavior, while the low $`T`$ behavior of the $`x=0.66`$ sample with $`T_c\left(H=0\right)`$ $`=23K`$ exhibits metallic behavior. Thus, there is a metal to insulator (MI) crossover. The emerging ($`x,T,H`$)-phase diagram is displayed in Fig.32. The arrows mark the flows emerging from the experimental data displayed in Fig. 30 for $`x=0.84`$ (1) and $`x=0.66`$ (2).

This differs from the behavior observed in La2-xSrxCuO4 where the detectable MI- crossover appears to set in close to optimum doping. In Fig.33 we depicted the logarithmic plot of $`\rho _{ab}\left(T\right)`$ for Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ and La2-xSrxCuO4 crystals for $`H=0`$ and $`60T`$ and various doping concentrations . Concentrating on the presence or absence of an upturn, it is clearly seen that in La2-xSrxCuO4 the MI-crossover occurs around $`x0.15`$, corresponding to optimum doping. However, it should be kept in mind that this crossover is nonuniversal. For this reason, the dopant concentration where insulating behavior is detectable is expected to be material dependent.

The magneto resistance $`\rho _{ab}(H,T)`$ of underdoped La2-x SrxCuO4 films with $`x0.048`$ $`\left(T_c=0.45K\right)`$ and $`0.051`$ $`\left(T_c=4K\right)`$ was also studied in magnetic fields up to $`0.5T`$ and at temperatures down to $`30mK`$ . The temperature dependence of $`\rho _{ab}(H,T)`$ of the film closest to the 2D-QSI transition $`\left(x0.048,T_c=0.45K\right)`$ was found to be consistent with $`\rho _{ab}exp\left(\left(T/T_0\right)^{1/3}\right)`$ below $`1K`$ and for fields from $`4`$ to $`6T`$. Thus this study points to 2D-localization. On the other hand, the data of Ando et al. (Fig.33) appears to be consistent with a logarithmic divergence of the normal-state resistivity down to $`0.7K`$ for $`x=0.08`$ and $`H=`$ $`60T`$, suggesting 2D weak localization. In any case, the evidence for 2D localization confirms an essential property of 2D-QSI criticality: disorder localizes the pairs and destroys superfluidity.

## IV Thin films and field-effect doping

There is considerable evidence that the quantum superconductor to insulator transition in thin films can also be traversed by changing a parameter such as film thickness, disorder etc. . As cuprates are concerned, an instructive example are the measurements of YBa2Cu3O7-δ slabs of thickness $`d`$ separated by 16 unit cells ($`187A`$) of PrBa2Cu3O7. Due to the large separation the YBa2Cu3O7-δ slabs can be considered to be essentially to be uncoupled. As shown in Fig.6 in YBa2Cu3O7-δ slabs of thickness $`d`$ the transition temperature was found to vary according to Eq.(4). Together with the scaling relation (38) this points to a 2D-QSI transition with $`z\overline{\nu }=1`$, in agreement with our previous estimate (Eq.(64)). Since quantum fluctuations alone are not incompatible with superconductivity, this 2D-QSI transition must be attributed to the combined effect of disorder and quantum fluctuations. For this reason it is conceivable that in cleaner films superconductivity may also occur at and below this value of $`d_s`$, which is close to the estimate derived from the bulk (Eq.(68)). Recently this has been achieved by inducing charges by the field-effect technique, whereby the mobile carrier density can be varied continuously and reversibly, without introducing additional sources of disorder. By establishing a voltage difference between a metallic electrode and the crystal, charge can be added or removed from the CuO2 layers: positive voltage injects electrons, and a negative voltage injects holes. This allows to vary both electron and hole charge densities over a considerable range of interest. Using this technique Schön et al. converted an insulating thin slab of CaCuO2 into a superconductor. The success of this technique relies on the high quality films and on the quality of the interfaces between the film material and the metallic electrode. The ($`T_c`$, $`x`$) phase diagram for CaCuO2 is shown Fig.7. The doping level was calculated from the independently measured capacitance of the gate dielectric, assuming that all the charge is located in a single CuO2 layer. The diagram exhibits apparent electron and hole superconductivity, and bears a strong resemblance to results observed in other cuprates, in agreement with the empirical correlation (3). Note that the finite temperature superconductor to normal state transition falls into the 2D-XY universality class. Thus $`T_c`$ is the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature. At low doping levels ($`x<0.1`$) a logarithmic divergence of $`\rho `$ was found. This observation for n- as well as p-type doping of CaCuO2 are in accordance with a 2D-QSI transition in the underdoped limit, where disorder localizes the pairs and destroys superfluidity (Eq.(64)). Although superconductivity has been observed previously in SrCuO2/BaCuO2 and in BaCuO2/CaCuO2 superlattices with a maximum $`T_c`$ value of about 80 K, the field effect doping is not limited by dopant solubility and compositional stability. This technique allows to study the properties of a given material as a function of the dopant concentration without introducing additional disorder and additional defects. Because the charge carriers appear to be confined in a very thin layer, what’s seen is superconductivity in 2D. Thus, due to the reduced dimensionality fluctuations will be enhanced over the full range of dopant concentrations. The phase diagram displayed in Fig.7 also points to a 2D-QSN transition in the overdoped limit. A potential candidate is again the disordered metal to d-wave superconductor transition at weak coupling, considered by Herbut, with $`z=2`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1/2`$, and the system is in 2D right at its upper critical dimension. Clearly, more detailed studies are needed to uncover the characteristic 2D critical properties in field effect doped cuprates. Of particular relevance is the confirmation of the universal linear relationship between $`T_{KT}`$ and the zero temperature in-plane penetration depth $`\lambda _{ab}\left(0\right)`$ close to the 2D-QSI transition. This relation provides an upper bound for the attainable transition temperatures.

We saw that in the bulk (see e.g. Fig.2) and chemically doped films superconductivity disappears in the 2D-limit, while in field effect doped CaCuO2 it survives. Since chemically doped materials with different carrier densities also have varying amounts of disorder, the third dimension is apparently needed to delocalize the carriers and to mediate superfluidity.

## V Concluding remarks and comparison with other layered superconductors

Evidence for power laws and scaling should properly consist of data that cover several decades in the parameters. The various power laws which we have exhibited span at best one decade and the evidence for data collapse exists only over a small range of the variables. Consequently, though the overall picture of the different types of data is highly suggestive, it cannot really be said that it does more than indicate consistency with the scaling expected near a quantum critical point or a quantum critical line. Nevertheless, the doping, substitution and magnetic field induced suppression of $`T_c`$ clearly reveal the existence and the flow to 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN quantum phase transition points and lines (see Figs.1, 2, 3 and 5). In principle, their universal critical properties represent essential constraints for the microscopic theory and phenomenological models. As it stands, the experimental data is fully consistent with a single complex scalar order parameter, a doping induced dimensional crossover, a doping, substitution or magnetic field driven suppression of superconductivity, due to the loss of phase coherence. When the evidence for this scenario persists, antiferromagnetic and charge fluctuations are irrelevant close to criticality. Moreover, given the evidence for the flow to 2D-QSI criticality, the associated 3D-2D crossover, tuned by increasing anisotropy, implies that a finite $`T_c`$ and superfluid density in the ground state of bulk cuprates is unalterably linked to a finite anisotropy. This raises serious doubts that 2D models are potential candidates to explain superconductivity in bulk cuprates.Nevertheless, we saw that in sufficiently clean and field effect doped CaCuO2 superconductivity survives in the 2D-limit. Thus, there is convincing evidence that the combined effect of disorder and quantum fluctuations plays an essential role and even destroys superconductivity in the 2D limit of chemically doped cuprates. Thus, as the nature of the quantum phase transitions in chemically doped cuprates is concerned, disorder is an essential ingredient. We have seen that the 2D-QSI transition has a rather wide and experimentally accessible critical region. For this reason we observed considerable and consistent evidence that it falls into the same universality class as the onset of superfluidity in 4He films in disordered media, corrected for the long-rangeness of the Coulomb interaction. The resulting critical exponents, $`z=1`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1`$ are also consistent with the empirical relations (Eqs.(1), (2) and (3)) and the observed temperature and magnetic field dependence of the specific heat coefficient in the limit of zero temperature. These properties also point to a 3D-QSN transition with $`z=2`$ and $`\overline{\nu }1/2`$, describing a d-wave superconductor to disordered metal transition at weak coupling. Here the disorder destroys superconductivity, while at the 2D-QSI transition it localizes the pairs and with that destroys superfluidity. Due to the existence of the 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN critical points, the detection of finite temperature 3D-XY critical behavior will be hampered by the associated crossovers which reduce the temperature regime where thermal 3D-XY fluctuations dominate. In any case, our analysis clearly revealed that superconductivity in chemically doped cuprate superconductors is a genuine 3D phenomenon and that the interplay of disorder (anisotropy) and superconductivity destroys the latter in the 2D limit. As a consequence, the universality of the empirical correlations reflects the flow to 2D-QSI and 3D-QSN criticality, tuned by chemical doping, substitution and an applied magnetic field. A detailed account of the flow from 2D-QSI to 3D-QSN criticality is a challenge for microscopic theories attempting to solve the puzzle of superconductivity in these materials. Although the mechanism for superconductivity in cuprates is not yet clear, essential constraints emerge from the existence of the quantum critical endpoints and lines. However, much experimental work remains to be done to fix the universality class of the 2D-QSI and particularly of the 3D-QSN critical points unambiguously.

In conclusion we note that universal properties emerging from thermal and quantum fluctuations are not restricted to cuprate superconductors. Potential candidates are the highly anisotropic organic superconductors which are close to a metal-insulator boundary. A glance to Fig.34 shows that the correlation between $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$ and $`\sigma _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)`$ is particularly rewarding. In various classes of layered superconductors, including organics, transition metal dichalcogenides and cuprates, $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$ is systematically suppressed with increase of normal state conductivity $`\sigma _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)`$. Without thermal and quantum fluctuations the DC conductivity is given by

$$\sigma _c^{DC}=\frac{ne^2}{m_c}\tau _{tr}=\frac{c^2\tau _{tr}}{4\pi \lambda _c^2\left(0\right)}.$$
(85)
$`\tau _{tr}`$ is the mean scattering time of the normal electrons in transport properties with number density per unit volume $`n`$ and effective mass $`m_c`$. Provided that the variations of $`\tau _{tr}`$ are small, superconductors where fluctuations can be neglected (mean-field superconductors) are then characterized by the dotted line in Fig.34, which is

$$\lambda _c\left(0\right)\left(\sigma _c^{DC}\right)^{1/2}.$$
(86)
It agrees with the data of mean-field superconductors rather well. Interestingly enough, MgB2 and Sr2RuO4 appear to fall into this class, as well. Prominent and systematic deviations from this behavior occur for the highly anisotropic organics and underdoped cuprates. As $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$ increases with the reduction of the normal state conductivity $`\sigma _c^{DC}`$, we observe that the data tends to scatter around two branches, consistent with $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)=\mathrm{\Omega }_s\left(\sigma _c^{DC}\right)^{3/4}`$, which is the scaling relation (57) with $`z=1`$, describing the critical behavior close to 2D-QSI critical points. The most prominent deviations from these trends occur for overdoped cuprates (see also Fig.24). In particular the data for overdoped YBa2Cu3O$`_{7\delta \text{ }}`$(YBCO) exhibit an upturn, signaling the crossover to 3D-QSN criticality (Eq.(62)). Since organics undergo superconductor to insulator transitions, are highly anisotropic and $`\gamma `$ can be varied over a rather extended interval, i.e. $`\gamma _{T_c}=180`$ for $`\kappa `$-(ET)2 Cu\[N(CS)2 \]Br, $`\gamma _{T_c}=350`$ for $`\kappa `$-(ET)2 Cu(NCS)2 and. $`\gamma _{T_c}=\mathrm{2\; 10}^3`$ for $`\alpha `$\- (BEDT-TTF)2NH4Hg(SCN)4, it becomes clear that the organics line in Fig.34 indicates the flow of this class of superconductors to 2D-QSI criticality, where the scaling relation (57) applies.

Thus unlike the organics the cuprates undergo a doping tuned crossover from 2D-QSI to 3D-QSN criticality, where $`\sigma _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)`$ and $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$ tend to infinity, while $`T_c`$ vanishes. These critical points are attained in the underdoped and overdoped limit, respectively, where $`T_c`$ vanishes. In this crossover the cuprates either pass the organics or the dotted mean-field line, spanned by conventional superconductors (see Fig.34). YBa2Cu3O7-δ(YBCO) and La2-xSrxCuO4+δ(LSCO) cross the dotted mean-field line in the neighborhood of TaS2, Sr2RuO4 and MgB$`_{2\text{ }}`$. In this region of the $`\lambda _c\left(0\right)`$-$`\sigma _c^{DC}\left(T_c^+\right)`$ plane fluctuations do not play a dominant role. Indeed, Sr2RuO4 exhibits Fermi liquid normal state properties. However, overdoped cuprates flow to 3D-QSN criticality, where disorder destroys the phase coherence and the pairs. On the contrary, the organics evolve rather smoothly from the mean-field regime, to which Pb, Nb, Nb-junctions, $`\alpha `$-Mo1-xGex and the dichalcogenides belong. Thus, these flows provide a perspective of the regimes where fluctuations and disorder are essential.

It is a pleasure to thank H.Keller and K.A. Müller for numerous helpful discussions.