QCD calculations with optical lattices

By trapping cold polarizable atoms in periodic potentials created by crossed laser beams, it is now possible to experimentally create ``clean'' lattice systems. Experimentalists have successfully engineered local and nearest-neighbor interactions that approximately recreate Hubbard-like models on table tops. I discuss the possibility of using this new technology in order to: 1) calculate correlation functions and determinants for models with fermions, 2) design new systems with emergent local gauge invariance.