Systems and methods for fabricating aligned structures by optical modulation instability

A method and system for manufacturing a structure (32) having at least one dimension and made of highly aligned structural microfilaments (11), the method comprising: a) providing a photoresponsive material (13) in an extrusion unit (12), preferably a nozzle, or an optically transparent container, the photoresponsive material (13) being capable of changing its material phase when irradiated by light (15) of one or more wavelengths; b) irradiating the photoresponsive material (13) with one or more light sources (14, 21, 50, 62, 65) capable of emitting at least one or more wavelengths of light, preferably while the photoresponsive material (13) is extruded through the extrusion unit (12), at least one of the one or more light sources (14, 21, 50, 62, 65) being capable of generating an optical modulation instability in the photoresponsive material (13), thereby creating an optical modulation instability in the photoresponsive material (13), thereby forming a micropatterned filament (10); c) forming, from the mic