  We establish the theoretical feasibility of direct analog simulation of the
compact U(1) lattice gauge theories in optical lattices with dipolar bosons. We
discuss the realizability of the topological Coulomb phase in extended
Bose-Hubbard models in several optical lattice geometries. We predict the
testable signatures of this emergent phase in noise correlation measurements,
thus suggesting the possible emergence of artificial light in optical lattices.
