What immediate destructive mechanism occurs when approaching a magnetar's surface via its static field?
Answer
The field overwhelms the electron shells of atoms, causing atomic structure deformation and stretching.
If one approaches a magnetar, the immediate danger is not gravity, as neutron stars are relatively small, but the magnetic field itself. Once the field strength becomes high enough—which happens within a few hundred kilometers—it surpasses the electromagnetic forces that normally hold atoms together. This process, termed magnetization, begins to deform the atomic structure. Atoms are stretched into long, thin threads aligned perfectly with the intense magnetic field lines. This molecular disassembly precedes any potential effects from gravitational crushing or the energy released during a flare.
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