Finite temperature dissipation and transport near quantum critical points

Abstract

I review a variety of model systems and their quantum critical points, motivated by recent experimental and theoretical developments. These are used to present a general discussion of the non-zero temperature crossovers in the vicinity of a quantum critical point. Insights are drawn from the exact solutions of quantum critical transport obtained from the AdS/CFT correspondence. I conclude with a discussion of the role of quantum criticality in the phase diagram of the cuprate superconductorsComment: 27 pages, 10 figures, Contributed chapter to the book "Understanding Quantum Phase Transitions," edited by Lincoln D. Carr (Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, 2010