Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 October 1998
A nonlinear thermal instability in a layer of electrically conducting fluid in the presence of a magnetic field is discussed. Steady-state bifurcation results in the formation of patterns: rolls, squares and hexagons. The stability of various patterns is also investigated. It is found that in the absence of a magnetic field only rolls are stable, but when the magnetic field strength exceeds a certain finite value, squares and hexagons also become stable.