Final Packet Presented To DepSecDef

UNCLASSIFIED
understanding of the research area, but is also able to provide his personal
accounts of meetings with the prominent researchers. In addition, he describes his
own experimental results, or lack thereof Because ofhis own personal attachment
to the field, I found the report to be somewhat captivating, as I felt a strong sense
of being close to the research and hearing.from the 'horse's mouth, 'so to speak.
Despite his involvement, j(b)(6) !point of view seems to be that ofan impartial
observer and he does not appear to take sides, or seem to be trying to promote or
'sell' the research field. He does an excellent job ofrelaying a candid and
informative survey ofwhat, to me, seems to be a tantalizing yet controversial field
ofstudy.
(b)(6)
Metallic Glasses: Status and Prospects for Aerospace Applications
l(b)(6) I
This is an excellent and highly readable Survey report that defines Afetallic
glasses, the advantages and disadvantages to other composite materials, and how
their mechanical properties are both alike and different from those ofpure metals.
These properties include strength, stiffness, and toughness. The author makes a
case that the processing capability meets and sometimes exceeds those of
thermoplastic polymers, and traditional metals. Glass hybrid composites are found
to excel in almost all cases to current materials in widespread use.
(b)(6)
Theory and Experiments of Invisibility Cloaking
(b)(6)
The report by j(b)(6) Vescrzbes the background and recent advances m the
field of invisibility cloaking. This field recently emerged as one of the most
exciting applications of metamaterials - artificially structured media possessing
unusual refractive properties. l(b)(6) 1··· is a pioneer in this field, having
published one of the first theoretical papers describing the possibility of cloaking.
This topic still evokes misunderstandings and confusion. That is not surprising:
the concept of invisibility (although not its technical im lementation) has been
preoccupying people for centuries ifnot millennia. (b)(6) report does an
excellent job ofclearing some of this confusion an provi ing c ear definitions of
what constitutes true cloaking/invisibility. It also honestly discusses technological
challenges to making a practical invisibility cloak.
5
UNCLASSIEIED