Fourier analysis is used to consider the characteristics of linear mag
netosonic N waves propagating through a uniform background medium at r
est, with constant uniform magnetic field B0. The disturbance is drive
n by an initial compressed and localized gas pressure perturbation, re
presented by a Dirac delta distribution. The solutions for the perturb
ed gas and magnetic field variables are expressed as second derivative
s of appropriate wave potentials. The wave potentials split naturally
into fast and slow magnetosonic components. The fast- and slow-mode wa
ve potentials reduce to one-dimensional integrals over the wave normal
angle theta between the wave vector k and B0. Alternatively, the fast
-mode wave potentials can be written as Abelian integrals over the slo
w-mode phase speed c(s), whereas the slow-mode potentials reduce to Ab
elian integrals over the fast-mode phase speed c(f). The structure of
the integrals depends on the location of the observation point relativ
e to the fast and slow magnetosonic eikonal or group velocity surfaces
. Calculations of the time evolution of the magnetic field of the N wa
ve show a family of magnetic field fines connecting the cusps of the s
low magnetosonic group velocity surface, plus a further family of fiel
d lines not connected with the cusps. The wave disturbance is confined
on and within the fast magnetosonic group velocity surface. The gas p
ressure perturbation shows singular N wave type disturbances on the fa
st- and slow-mode eikonal surfaces. The Green's function for the magne
to-acoustic wave operator for a uniform background medium initially at
rest is also obtained. Generalization of the N wave solutions for non
-singular distributions of the initial gas pressure perturbation are a
lso obtained.