2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/21144Using quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the one-dimensional fermionic Hubbard model in a harmonic potential displays quantum critical behavior at the boundaries of a Mott-insulating region. A local compressibility defined to characterize the Mott-insulating phase has a non-trivial critical exponent. Both the local compressibility and the variance of the local density show universality with respect to the confining potential. We determine a generic phase diagram, that allows the prediction of the phases to be observed in experiments with ultracold fermionic atoms trapped on optical lattices.Revtex file, 4 pages, 5 figures, published versionStrongly Correlated ElectronsStatistical MechanicsQuantum Physicstext