F. D. C. Willard

FDC Willard ( born 1968 in Holt, Michigan; † in Haslett, Michigan, 1982) was a Siamese cat named Chester, the internationally published under this name as a previously known only gewordenenes copy of their way two work on low temperature physics in scientific journals, even as a co-author and the other times as the sole author.

Background

The American physicist and mathematician Jack H. Hetherington, Michigan State University, wanted to publish in 1975 some of his research results in the field of low temperature physics in the Physical Review Letters, a prestigious journal. A colleague to whom he had given his paper for review, made him the frequent use of the first person plural ( plural Auctoris ) is attentive and pointed out to him that the magazine article rejects in this form, if only to draw a single author for. Rather than write off the article again and fixes, or to look for a co-author, Hetherington decided to invent such.

Publications

Hetherington had a Siamese cat named Chester, who came from a cat named Willard. Following the fashion of several names he invented in the manner of a biological nature names for his house cat middle names to: Felis domesticus, and cut them accordingly: FDC His article entitled "Two-, Three-, and Four - Atom Exchange Effects in bcc ³ He, " written by JH Hetherington and FDC Willard, was adopted by the magazine and published in number 35 of November 1975.

At the 15th International Conference on Low Temperature Physics in 1978 in Grenoble also invited the second author has been unmasked; Hetherington had signed the Andruckexemplar his article the pawprints of his Koautors and sent in some copies to friends and colleagues. Nevertheless appeared, now alone of FDC Willard, an essay entitled " L' hélium 3 solid. Un antiferromagnétique Nucléaire ", published in September 1980 in the French popular science magazine La Recherche. Then Willard disappeared as the author of the art.

Reception

Due to the unmasking of the second author was Hetherington's Physical - Review- essay, which frequently has been referenced, world known and the co-authorship made ​​legends. The story goes that in inquiries to Hetherington's Institute at Michigan State University was like to refer in his absence to the co-author. Also have, as it is sometimes, cooperation on the basis of content, differences come to an end. FDC Willard appeared henceforth repeatedly in footnotes on where he was thanked for " useful discussions " or oral communications.