Quantum Phase Transitions in the 1D Bose-Hubbard Model: From Local Interactions to Cavity-Mediated Dissipation

The Bose-Hubbard model provides a foundational paradigm for exploring quantum phase transitions in many-body systems. This thesis presents a systematic investigation into this model and its extensions, designed to provide a clear path for understanding both the rich underlying physics and the sophisticated numerical methods required for its study. Our approach is sequential: we begin with the standard one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model, introduce complexity via the extended model with long-range interactions, and conclude by analyzing the impact of dissipation in a cavity-coupled open quantum system.To navigate these regimes, we implement and apply a suite of powerful computational techniques, including Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG), finite-temperature Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC), and Mean-Field Theory (MFT). A significant component of this work is the detailed exposition of the implementation and logic of these numerical methods. Through their comparative application, we precisely characterize the equilibrium phase diagrams and benchmark the capabilities of each method. Crucially, our analysis of the open-system dynamics reveals that dissipation replaces the equilibrium phase diagram with one governed by non-equilibrium steady states (NESS), where the system evolves to either a stable solution or a persistent limit cycle.As such, this thesis is intended to serve a dual purpose: it is both a rigorous physical study of quantum phase transitions in a condensed matter system and a selfcontained pedagogical guide for researchers beginning to explore the phenomenology of quantum phase transitions through numerical schemes.