Stability of the Strongest Magnetic Fields

Neutron stars with the strongest magnetic fields, known as magnetars, contain fields up to nine orders of magnitude stronger than those produced in the laboratory. While the field exterior to the star is thought to be dominated by a roughly dipolar structure, the interior field is entirely unknown, and is currently a hotly debated topic in astrophysics since it is thought to be connected with huge gamma-ray outburst, the giant flares, and possibly also with gravitational radiation.