It is proposed to elucidate the origin and properties of the frequency-shifted conical emission and breakup of laser pulses into solitary waves observed in laser-driven atomic and molecular vapors. The studies bear on current issues of wave propagation in nonlinear media and departures from the adiabatic approximation of quantum mechanics. Topics include: (1) completion of the study of conical emission and pulse breakup in two level systems under condition of moderate self-focusing, (2) similar studies in multilevel systems, (3) studies of the effects on possible laser isotope separation processes, (4) similar studies under conditions of strong self-focusing, and (5) investigations of the possibility of intrinsic optical bi stability in an atomic vapor.
