This Note discusses, in a largely nontechnical way, several issuesinherent in exploiting the energy released when matter and antimatterannihilate. Some of the fundamental difficulties in producingantimatter and means for storing it are reviewed. If these difficultieshave satisfactory solutions, a number of applications for antimatter arelikely to emerge.

The point of view of the Note is that current uncertainties in thebasic understanding of problems of suitable production and storage donot permit confident assertion that these technologies can be developed,in a reasonably near time, to any widespread applications. Similarly,it is not possible to prove demonstrably that solutions to theseproblems will not be achievable in a reasonably near time, although itis clear that any solutions will be difficult and complex.

We believe a well-defined analysis and experiment program can beformulated which seeks to resolve these current uncertainties at a pacelikely to surprise many. Solutions, time scales, and the promise ofbeing able to use antimatter can then be assessed with much higherconfidence. The Note therefore emphasizes RDT&E programs in physics andengineering which can lead to higher confidence assessments and removemany uncertainties

There is an enormous amount of intrinsic pure science inherent inthis RDT&E which should draw creative scientists to the field.

Vital, extremely important precursors to hands-on work withantimatter are normal matter experimental counterparts. Theseexperiments, along with experiments handling present technology levelsof ~10⁸/sec, ~10¹³ total antiprotons, and transportable antiprotonreservoirs, would decide many crucial feasibility questions within about5 years