We present a microwave realization of finite tight-binding graphene-like structures. The structures are realized using disks with a high index of refraction. The disks are placed on a metallic surface while a second surface is adjusted atop the discs, such that the waves coupling the disks in the air are evanescent, leading to the tight-binding behavior. In reflection measurements the Dirac point and a linear increase close to the Dirac point is observed, if the measurement is performed inside the sample. Resonances due to edge states are found close to the Dirac point if the measurements are performed at the zigzag-edge or at the corner in case of a broken benzene ring.

We study, using quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations, the ground state properties of spin-1 bosons trapped in a square optical lattice. The phase diagram is characterized by the mobility of the particles (Mott insulating or superfluid phase) and by their magnetic properties. For ferromagnetic on-site interactions, the whole phase diagram is ferromagnetic and the Mott insulators-superfluid phase transitions are second order. For antiferromagnetic on-site interactions, spin nematic order is found in the odd Mott lobes and in the superfluid phase. Furthermore, the superfluid-insulator phase transition is first or second order depending on whether the density in the Mott is even or odd. Inside the even Mott lobes, we observe a singlet-to-nematic transition for certain values of the interactions. This transition appears to be first order.

High-finesse optical cavity allows the establishment of long-range interactions between bosons in an optical lattice when most cold atoms experiments are restricted to short-range interactions. Supersolid phases have recently been experimentally observed in such systems. Using both exact quantum Monte Carlo simulations and Gutzwiller approximation, we study the ground state phase diagrams of a two-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model with infinite-range interactions which describes such experiments. In addition to superfluid and insulating Mott phases, the infinite-range checkerboard interactions introduce charge density waves and supersolid phases. We study here the system at various particle densities, elucidate the nature of the phases and quantum phase transitions, and discuss the stability of the phases with respect to phase separation. In particular we confirm the existence and stability of a supersolid phase detected experimentally.