EFFECT OF INTERLAYER COUPLING IN YBA2CU3O7-Y

The layered oxide superconductors are essentially two-dimensional in character with a weak coupling between copper oxide planes. Using perturbation arguments of scaling theory, we compare the scaling function in a quasi-two-dimensional layered material with that in a (2 + epsilon) dimensional system and relate the interlayer coupling to an effective dimensionality. The effect of interlayer coupling on metallic conduction and superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7-y is discussed.