Observability of quantum criticality and a continuous supersolid in atomic gases

We analyze the Bose-Hubbard model with a three-body hard-core constraint by mapping the system to a theory of two coupled bosonic degrees of freedom. We find striking features that could be observable in experiments, including a quantum Ising critical point on the transition from atomic to dimer superfluidity at unit filling, and a continuous supersolid phase for strongly bound dimers.