Richard A. Norte
Richard Alexander Norte is a faculty member at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands. His research group develops cutting-edge nanotechnologies for quantum hardware, focusing on optical metasurfaces and nanomechanics. Richard holds dual BSc degrees in Physics and Mathematics from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Physics from Caltech.
Since joining TU Delft, his work has been featured in Nature, Nature Photonics, Science, Physical Review Letters, and on the cover of Scientific American. He was recently awarded a €2.5 million ERC Starting Grant—one of Europe’s most prestigious personal grants—to advance next-generation laser sails for interstellar exploration.
His team has achieved significant breakthroughs in laser sail nano-manufacturing, reducing fabrication times from 15 years to a single day by integrating nanophotonics, fabrication techniques, and economic considerations of the Starshot mission. These innovations and expertise position his lab as a global leader in the pursuit of practical materials for laser-based interstellar travel.
Delft University of Technology