We study a coupled system of a complex Ginzburg–Landau equation with a quasilinear conservation law
{e−iθut=uxx−∣∣u∣∣2u−αg(v)u,vt+(f(v))x=α(g'(v)∣∣u∣∣2)x,x∈R,t≥0
which can describe the interaction between a laser beam and a fluid flow (see [I.-S. Aranson and L. Kramer, The world of the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation, Rev. Mod. Phys.74 (2002) 99–143]). We prove the existence of a local in time strong solution for the associated Cauchy problem and, for a certain class of flux functions, the existence of global weak solutions. Furthermore, we prove the existence of standing wave solutions of the form (u(t,x),v(t,x))=(U(x),V(x)) in several cases.