Figure 1 (IMAGE) Institute for Basic Science Caption The spatial intensity profile of a laser beam propagating in a nonlinear medium spontaneously becomes nonuniform due to the process of modulational instability. Credit Institute for Basic Science Usage Restrictions Attribution Required License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.