13 Supplement to Metallic Specimen

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AI Summary

1 All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office Supplement to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Analysis of a Metallic Specimen July 2024 Overview In 2022, The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) contracted with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to conduct materials testing on a magnesium (Mg) alloy specimen. This specimen has been publicly alleged to be a component recovered from a crashed extraterrestrial vehicle in 1947, and purportedly exhibits extraordinary properties, such as func

Key Findings

NARA NAID 493468580 · RG 615

OCR Text

1 All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office Supplement to Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Analysis of a Metallic Specimen July 2024 Overview In 2022, The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) contracted with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to conduct materials testing on a magnesium (Mg) alloy specimen. This specimen has been publicly alleged to be a component recovered from a crashed extraterrestrial vehicle in 1947, and purportedly exhibits extraordinary properties, such as functioning as a terahertz waveguide to generate antigravity capabilities. In April 2024, ORNL produced a summary of findings documenting the laboratory’s methodology to assess this specimen’s elemental and structural characteristics, available on AARO’s website. ORNL assessed this specimen to be terrestrial in origin and that it does not meet the theoretical requirements to function as a terahertz (THz) waveguide. AARO concurs with ORNL’s assessment and provides this supplementary material to add historical context to account for its likely origin. The specimen’s characteristics are consistent with Mg alloy research and development projects and experimental manufacturing methods in the mid-20 th century. ORNL Materials Testing AARO contracted with ORNL to conduct materials measurements to determine: •Whether this specimen is of terrestrial origin. •Whether this specimen could serve as a THz waveguide. ORNL measured the isotopic ratios of Mg and lead (Pb) in the specimen and compared the values against mass standards. A material’s isotopic composition can provide valuable information about its origin and history. The specimen’s Mg isotopic composition falls within the expected values for a terrestrial material that has undergone kinetic fractionation, suggesting likely terrestrial origin. Its Pb isotopic ratio is consistent with ratios found in terrestrial lead, further supporting this conclusion. ORNL found the isotopic composition of this material to be unremarkable. The specimen’s Mg and Pb ratios fall within the standard values for manufactured materials, indicating that it is not a unique or unusual material. Elemental and structural analysis can help determine whether a structure has the characteristics of a waveguide. A waveguide is a structure that bounds and directs the propagation of waves. Waveguides are instrumental to many technologies. ORNL measured the specimen’s top layer’s elemental composition and crystal structure and found bismuth (Bi) colocated with nearly equal parts Pb. High-resolution elemental mapping shows repeating layers of Bi and Pb banding throughout the specimen and zinc (Zn) concentration varying from 1-4 wt%. Structural analysis shows columnar Mg grains perpendicular to the Bi and Pb banding. 013 All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office Chief of Staff, AARO Authority: FY24 NDAA, now codified at 44 U.S.C. 2107 Date: 02/06/2025 Released in Full: ____X___; Released in Part ______ Case Number: 330UAP000013 Page determined to be Unclassified Reviewed by Chief of Staff, AARO IAW FY24 NDAA, Section 1841 (a)(1) (C) Date: 02/06/2025 2 According to Podolskiy et al., Bi can theoretically function as a waveguide when it exists as a single crystalline layer between surfaces with sufficient dielectric () constants. 1 As a single crystalline layer, Bi displays anisotropic  properties. 2 Anisotropic  properties cause electromagnetic waves to propagate non-uniformly across different axes. Podolskiy et al. assert that a monocrystalline layer of Bi has sufficient  anisotropy to guide THz frequency waves. This specimen’s intermixed composition of Pb indicates that Bi never existed as a pure layer, regardless of any processing effects that may have altered the crystalline structure. Therefore, this specimen’s elemental and structural characteristics do not meet the conditions to theoretically function as a waveguide. ORNL and AARO could not determine whether this specimen was a fragment of a larger object. However, this specimen’s delamination, oxidation, and structural characteristics are consistent with exposure to environmental and mechanical stresses over time. 3 In its current form, the specimen probably does not represent its original configuration, condition, or application. Despite these complicating factors, AARO draws two distinct conclusions from ORNL’s findings: First, the specimen’s physical properties are consistent with a material of terrestrial origin. Materials exhibit a predictable isotopic signature when formed in and exposed to terrestrial conditions. This specimen’s isotopic signature is consistent with terrestrial signatures and does not exhibit expected interstellar signatures. 4 5 6 7 8 Second, the specimen’s structural and elemental properties are inconsistent with the anisotropic  properties required to theoretically function as a waveguide. 2 Historical Context and Likely Origin Starting in …

Metadata

Agency
Department of Defense. Office of the Secretary of Defense. (09/18/1947 - )
Classification
UNCLASSIFIED
Department
Department of Defense. Office of the Secretary of Defense. (09/18/1947 - )
Confidence60
Credibility70

NARA Source

NAID
493468580
File
13_Supplement_to_Metallic_Specimen.pdf
Type
application/pdf

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