Anisotropic transverse scaling of an isotropic roll envelope ($X=\epsilon x,Y={\epsilon }^{1/2}y,T={\epsilon }^{2}t$)

At a nonzero critical wavenumber in an isotropic medium, a small transverse wavevector changes its magnitude only at second order. Balancing radial detuning therefore requires the displayed unequal slow-space scales. With the positive carrier $e^{i{k}_{c}x}$, the leading Newell–Whitehead–Segel equation spatial term is $\xi ({\partial }_X-i{\partial }_Y^2/(2k_c){)}^{2}A$. A roll detuning $q$ has transverse phase growth $-\xi q{p}^2/k_c-\xi p^4/(4k_c^2)$; negative $q$ permits a zigzag instability. Changing the carrier convention changes the accompanying sign of $q$. Replacing this operator by an isotropic second-order Laplacian misses the critical circle's geometry.