Cold-atom systems as condensed matter physics emulation

Ultracold-atom systems are an ideal quantum simulator or emulator of condensed matter physics, providing a unique approach to study strongly correlated quantum many body physics. In particular, a system of ultracold atoms loaded into an optical lattice is well described by a Hubbard model, an important minimal model in the study of condensed matter physics. High controllability of system parameters is a key to this new approach. In this chapter, we describe in detail the basic techniques as well as the recent developments of this rapidly growing field.