Martijn de Sterke

Professor Martijn de Sterke is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Sydney and a member of the Sydney Nano Institute. He holds a MEng in Applied Physics from Delft University of Technology (1982) and a PhD in Optics from the University of Rochester (1987). His postdoctoral work at the University of Toronto (1988–1990) preceded his faculty appointment at the University of Sydney, where he has contributed significantly to the field of nonlinear optics.

His research focuses on nonlinear optics, photonic crystals, soliton dynamics, and plasmonic systems. Notable contributions include studies on soliton microcombs, metamaterial-enhanced optical effects, and relativistic lightsail propulsion concepts. He has pioneered work on pure-quartic solitons and their applications in fiber lasers, as well as investigations into Förster resonance energy transfer in engineered metamaterials.

• Educations:
  • MEng in Applied Physics, Delft University of Technology (1982)
  • PhD in Optics, University of Rochester (1987)

His publications span over 300 works, including key contributions to Optics Express as Editor-in-Chief from 2007–2012. He has received prestigious awards such as the Pawsey Medal (1999), Esther Hoffman Beller Medal (2017), and Beatty Steel Medal (2024). Current research activities include ARC-funded projects on optical microcombs and dispersion-engineered solitons.

His work bridges theoretical models and experimental implementations, with applications in ultrafast optics, nanophotonics, and space propulsion systems leveraging optical forces.