A two-dimensional problem in electromagneto-thermoelasticity for a homogeneous orthotropic perfectly conducting elastic slab subjected to a time-dependent heat source on each face is considered in the context of the Green and Lindsay model of thermoelasticity. There acts an initial magnetic field with constant intensity parallel to the plane boundary of the slab. The normal mode analysis and eigenvalue approach is used to solve the governing equations. The distribution of the considered field variables is presented graphically. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York.