Department of Physics2024-11-0920121434-602810.1140/epjb/e2012-20852-52-s2.0-84858807378https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/980We study the effects of an artificial gauge field on the ground-state phases of the Bose-Hubbard model on a checkerboard superlattice in two dimensions, including the superfluid phase and the Mott and alternating Mott insulators. First, we discuss the single-particle Hofstadter problem, and show that the presence of a checkerboard superlattice gives rise to a magnetic flux-independent energy gap in the excitation spectrum. Then, we consider the many-particle problem, and derive an analytical mean-field expression for the superfluid-Mott and superfluid-alternating-Mott insulator phase transition boundaries. Finally, since the phase diagram of the Bose-Hubbard model on a checkerboard superlattice is in many ways similar to that of the extended Bose-Hubbard model, we comment on the effects of magnetic field on the latter model, and derive an analytical mean-field expression for the superfluid-insulator phase transition boundaries as well.pdfPhysicsJournal Article1434-6036https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-20852-5301430400019N/ANOIR00323