Editing Magnetar (section)

==Magnetic Field==
Magnetars are primarily characterized by their extremely powerful magnetic field, which can often reach the order of ten [[Tesla|gigatesla]]s. These magnetic fields are hundreds of thousands of times stronger than any man-made magnet, and quadrillions of times more powerful than Earth's magnetic field. They are  currently the most magnetic objects ever detected in the universe.
A magnetic field of 10 gigateslas is enormous relative to magnetic fields typically encountered on Earth. Earth has a [[Magnetosphere|Geomagnetic]] field of 30–60 microteslas, and a [[Neodymium|Neodymium-based]] rare earth magnet has a field of about 1 tesla, with a magnetic energy density of 4.0×105 J/m3. A 10 gigatesla field, by contrast, has an energy density of 4.0×1025 J/m3, with an E/c2 mass density >104 times that of lead. The magnetic field of a magnetar would be lethal even at a distance of 1000 km, tearing tissues due to the [[Diamagnetism]]  of water. A magnetar can erase credit cards and pull metal objects from your pockets from halfway to the moon.
Remarkable things happen within a magnetic field of magnetar strength. 

:" X-ray photons readily split in two or merge together. The vacuum itself is polarized, becoming strongly [[Birefringence|Birefringent]], like a calcite crystal. Atoms are deformed into long cylinders thinner than the quantum-relativistic [[Wavelength]] of an electron." 

In a field of about 105 teslas [[atomic orbital]]s deform into rod shapes. At 1010 teslas, a hydrogen atom becomes a spindle 200 times narrower than its normal diameter.