A composite interstellar model consisting of stars and optically thin radiating plasma is considered in order to investigate the thermal instability arising from possible radiation and other heat-loss mechanisms. The stellar dynamics is governed by the Vlasov equation, while the gas is supposed to be a hydromagnetic plasma,,described by .th&MHR equations, with a density- and temperature-dependent heat-loss function. It is shown that while with cold stars the system is in general unstable irrespective of thermal effects of the plasma, with warm stars having a Maxwellian distribution the thermal plasma considerably influences the stability of the composite system. It is also shown that the otherwise stable composite (with warm stars) configuration may become unstable in the presence of a radiating plasma because of coupling between the heat-loss mechanisms and stellar populations.
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