AT Field Destruction and Interaction

Negative (destructive)

The destruction of an AT Field is a task impossible without another AT Field. Although neutralize would be a better description of the process, the word destroy does apply to a number of incidences. Along with destruction, there is another manner of negative AT Field interaction - nullification.

Neutralization

The neutralization of the Angel's AT Field is always the first priority during battle. This is necessary only when the Angel is generating a defensive field. The neutralization process occurs when two fields are in contact. For one field to neutralize the other, it must eliminate the phase space between the two.

Destruction

The destruction of an AT Field is not necessary to destroy the Angel. After being neutralized, a field is susceptible to physical damage. In the Fourteenth Angel, the field is cut open to expose the Angel's body. The nearly simultaneous destruction of an AT Field is observed in when Unit 01 hits the Fourteenth Angel with an offensive AT Field projection. The Angel's field remains solid for a second before shattering. It is interesting to note, however, that the Angel had already fallen before its AT Field did. This occurrence indicates that while part of the offensive projection interacted with the AT Field, another part was completely unaffected by its presence. This event (along with others) indicates that there is a third type of AT Field interaction.

Nullification

The nullification process is one of the rarer types of AT Field interaction. During nullification, an AT Field (or AT Field derivative) can pass through another AT Field without being affected. The first occurrence of this is seen in the above mentioned interaction between Unit 01's offensive projection and the Fourteenth Angel's defensive AT Field.
AT Field nullification also occurs in another strange manner - the deconstruction of a human body. First observed when a subject was dissolved into LCL, the true first occurrence of deconstruction was the accident that claimed UNIT 01 breaking her body down and releasing her spirit to be absorbed into the EVA. The final and most massive deconstruction is the Instrumentality, in which the bodies of the entire human race are reverted to LCL. The Instrumentality is created by the Anti-AT Fields of the mass produced EVAs; by this, nullification is dependent upon certain characteristics held by an Anti-AT Field.

Positive (constructive)

There are only two times that the positive AT Field interaction is seen. The first is the formation of the Tree of Life by the nine mass produced EVAs and Unit 01. Their AT Fields complement one another and begin the Third Impact by creating a massing shockwave that pulls the Black Moon free of the Earth. The second time happens moments later when the nine EVAs, along with Lillith, combine their AT-Fields into one - creating the massive Anti-AT Field that starts Instrumentality.