Reflections on the Discovery of the First Magnetic White Dwarf

J. D. Landstreet

I was one of the six people most closely involved in the discovery of the first magnetic white dwarf in 1970, now 50 years ago. Thinking back on this event, I have realised that the discovery occurred when and how it did because of a series of lucky coincidences along a strange and winding path. In this paper I recount the events as I recall them, and reflect on how those unlikely coincidences helped us to succeed.

Proceedings of the Polish Astronomical Society, vol. 11, 239-246 (2020)

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