We propose and study systems of coupled atomic wires in a perpendicular
synthetic magnetic field as a platform to realize exotic phases of quantum
matter. This includes (fractional) quantum Hall states in arrays of many wires
inspired by the pioneering work [Kane et al. PRL {\bf{88}}, 036401 (2002)], as
well as Meissner phases and Vortex phases in double-wires. With one continuous
and one discrete spatial dimension, the proposed setup naturally complements
recently realized discrete counterparts, i.e. the Harper-Hofstadter model and
the two leg flux ladder, respectively. We present both an in-depth theoretical
study and a detailed experimental proposal to make the unique properties of the
semi-continuous Harper-Hofstadter model accessible with cold atom experiments.
For the minimal setup of a double-wire, we explore how a sub-wavelength spacing
of the wires can be implemented. This construction increases the relevant
energy scales by at least an order of magnitude compared to ordinary optical
lattices, thus rendering subtle many-body phenomena such as Lifshitz
transitions in Fermi gases observable in an experimentally realistic parameter
regime. For arrays of many wires, we discuss the emergence of Chern bands with
readily tunable flatness of the dispersion and show how fractional quantum Hall
states can be stabilized in such systems. Using for the creation of optical
potentials Laguerre-Gauss beams that carry orbital angular momentum, we detail
how the coupled atomic wire setups can be realized in non-planar geometries
such as cylinders, discs, and tori