Magnetic fields in isolated and interacting white dwarfs

Understand

The magnetic white dwarfs (MWDs) are found either isolated or in interacting binaries.

• They divide into two groups: a high field group (0.1-1,000MegaGauss) comprising some 13% of all white dwarfs (WDs), and a low field group (B<0.1MG) whose incidence is currently under investigation.
• The situation may be similar in magnetic binaries because the bright accretion discs in low field systems hide the photosphere of their WDs thus preventing the study of their magnetic fields' strength and structure.
• Considerable research has been devoted to the vexed question on the origin of magnetic fields.