Quantum information and quantum many body systems: From scaling laws to implementations

Recently, tools from quantum information have been applied successfully to the analysis of scaling laws in quantum many body systems. Here I will review some results in this area that we have obtained. These scaling laws explain when and why certain methods for the approximation of quantum many body systems fail. Armed with this, I present a novel approach that addresses these problems. If time permits I will also present our ideas for the implementation of quantum simulators in coupled arrays of micro-cavities.