High-intensity and nonlinear structured light

High-intensity structured light could one day power the world—provided we figure out laser fusion (an enormous if!) using metasurfaces patterned with tiny, extremely precise nanostructures. Meanwhile, nonlinear structured photonics might unravel the very mystery of life, assuming photons can learn how to spontaneously self-organize into artificial living creatures. Both goals are equally absurd and irresistible. This Colloquium explores these grand ambitions, where the only certainty is that the journey ahead will be nonlinear, intense, and hopefully illuminating.