Inverse design in nanophotonics

Recent advancements in computational inverse-design approaches - algorithmic techniques for discovering optical structures based on desired functional characteristics - have begun to reshape the landscape of structures available to nanophotonics. Here, we outline a cross-section of key developments in this emerging field of photonic optimization: moving from a recap of foundational results to motivation of applications in nonlinear, topological, near-field and on-chip optics.