The University of Colorado Boulder physics department is happy to welcome Dr. Chris Akers as the newest faculty member! Akers, an assistant professor of physics, has already made a name for himself in the field of quantum gravity. With a rich academic background spanning from Texas A&M to postdoctoral positions at MIT and Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, Akers brings his expertise in theoretical physics to CU Boulder. His current research focuses on quantum gravity and the holographic principle, making him a valuable addition to the university’s renowned quantum physics community.
A Journey Through Physics
Akers’ journey into physics started at a young age.
“I grew up liking math and science and puzzles,” he says.
His passion for problem-solving naturally led him toward physics. During high school, Akers stumbled upon popular physics books by Sean Carroll and lectures by Steve Pollack, a professor of physics at CU Boulder. These resources fueled his interest in theoretical physics, steering him toward an academic career.
“I started in college as a physics major with academia as my goal,” Akers recalls.
Akers’ academic journey took him from Texas A&M University, where he explored various research areas, to the University of California at Berkeley for graduate school. Following his time at Berkeley, he pursued postdoctoral positions at MIT and the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. During these experiences, Akers refined his research focus, ultimately moving toward studying quantum gravity.
Current Research and Projects
Akers’ research at CU Boulder revolves around quantum gravity and the holographic principle. This theory suggests gravitational phenomena in our universe can be described by a quantum system in a lower-dimensional space that doesn’t include gravity.
As Akers explains: “There’s a completely different formulation of gravity that doesn’t involve gravity at all... this is sort of an emergent description of that other quantum system.”
In collaboration with colleagues such as Andrew Lucas and others at CU Boulder, Akers is working on simplifying complex problems in quantum gravity by examining them in fewer dimensions.
“We live in 3 plus 1 dimensions—three dimensions of space and one of time. But it turns out you can mathematically formulate an interesting theory of gravity in just one spatial dimension with one time dimension,” he adds.
This approach makes the equations governing quantum gravity more manageable while still preserving essential physics that can be used to build a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature of our universe.
Akers’ work is further supported by a $3 million grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation, which funds a collaboration among CU Boulder researchers to investigate how quantum gravity can be simulated using atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) systems. This effort could provide new insights into quantum emergent spacetime, potentially solving long-standing questions in physics.
Since arriving at CU Boulder, Akers has been impressed by the vibrant academic community.
“The people here are some of the best in the world at what they do,” he says, emphasizing the quality of his colleagues in the quantum group. “I get to talk about various aspects of quantum physics with some of the leading experts in AMO physics.”
In addition to the academic atmosphere, Akers enjoys the location and outdoor activities that Boulder offers. He’s looking forward to taking advantage of the city’s many hiking trails and outdoor adventures. “There’s so much to do, I can’t wait to explore,” he adds.