We perform a systematic study of incoherent transport in the high temperature crossover region of the half-filled one-band Hubbard model. We demonstrate that the family of resistivity curves displays characteristic quantum critical scaling of the form ρ(T, δU ) = ρc(T )f (T /To(δU )), with To(δU ) ∼ |δU | zν , and ρc(T ) ∼ T . The corresponding β-function displays a "strong coupling" form β ∼ ln(ρc/ρ), reflecting the peculiar mirror symmetry of the scaling curves. This behavior, which is surprisingly similar to some experimental findings, indicates that Mott quantum criticality may be acting as the fundamental mechanism behind the unusual transport phenomena in many systems near the metal-insulator transition.

Electron-electron interactions generally reduce the low temperature resistivity due to the screening of the impurity potential by the electron gas. In the weak-coupling limit, the magnitude of this screening effect is determined by the thermodynamic compressibility which is proportional to the inverse screening length. We show that when strong correlations are present, although the compressibility is reduced, the screening effect is nevertheless strongly enhanced. This phenomenon is traced to the same nonperturbative Kondo-like processes that lead to strong mass enhancements, but which are absent in weak-coupling approaches. We predict metallicity to be strongly stabilized in an intermediate regime where the interactions and the disorder are of comparable magnitude.

The experimentally established phase diagram of the half-filled Hubbard model features the existence of three distinct finite-temperature regimes, separated by extended crossover regions. A number of crossover lines can be defined to span those regions, which we explore in quantitative detail within the framework of dynamical mean-field theory. Most significantly, the high temperature crossover between the bad metal and Mott-insulator regimes displays a number of phenomena marking the gradual development of the Mott insulating state. We discuss the quantum critical scaling behavior found in this regime, and propose methods to facilitate its possible experimental observation. We also introduce the concept of quantum Widom lines and present a detailed discussion that highlights its physical meaning when used in the context of quantum phase transitions.