Concepts, Problems, and Opportunities for Use of Annihilation Energy

This Note discusses several issues inherent in exploiting the energy released when matter and antimatter annihilate. It reviews some of the fundamental difficulties in producing antimatter and means for storing it. If these difficulties have satisfactory solutions, a number of applications for antimatter are likely to emerge. The Note emphasizes the fundamental importance of the very large classes of interesting research efforts underlying applications goals, and the anticipated rapid growth of science needs for antimatter at low energies. The author suggests a near-term program to resolve the current uncertainties of suitable production and storage technologies, so that basic feasibility of applications of antimatter can be decided, and decisions on whether to undertake expanded production with appropriate storage can be objectively made.