Upper critical fields in high-T c superconductors

Abstract Since the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates, understanding the unconventional pairing mechanism has remained one of the most significant challenges. The upper critical field ( H c2 ) is an essential parameter for obtaining information on the pair-breaking mechanism, coherence length ξ, and pairing symmetry, all of which are crucial for understanding unconventional superconducting mechanisms. Here, we provide a brief review of studies on H c2 in several representative series of cuprate, iron-based, and nickelate superconductors. By comparing the behavior of H c2 as a function of temperature, doping concentration, and anisotropy across these three major classes of superconductors, we hope to contribute to a better understanding of the complex pairing interactions in high-temperature superconductors.