PRESSURE ANISOTROPY EFFECT ON MAGNETOSONIC WAVE-PROPAGATION IN A PLASMA SLAB

The propagation of magnetosonic waves in a slab of magnetized plasma i s investigated taking into account the anisotropy of the plasma kineti c pressure in a magnetic field. The phase velocities of the waves are found as a function of the ratio of slab thickness to wavelength for v arious plasma parameters inside and outside the slab. The thresholds o f the mirror and firehose instabilities are investigated. The ranges o f the system parameters for which anisotropy must be taken into accoun t are indicated. The changes introduced by anisotropy are estimated fo r different magnetic structures of the solar atmosphere.