: Making good decisions can be hard to do. There are many examples of senior leaders who failed to understand technology or disregarded its relevance to the battlefield. In some cases this was due to conservatism, pride, or even sheer stupidity, but in most cases it was due to an intelligent, well meaning leader inadvertently falling into a decision-making trap. While the concept of decision-making traps is not new, the future environment is introducing an entirely new set of challenges dramatically altering the way decisions are made on the battlefield. In this rapidly changing, technology charged environment, the effects of decision-making failure will be amplified and ramifications far more severe. To prevent failure, leaders must first understand the environment by staying engaged through self study. They must become familiar with terms associated with and the implications of concepts such as nanotechnology, quantum computing, biomimetics, artificial intelligence, and nanobots. Linear thinking must be replaced with intuitive leaps to account for the exponentially changing global environment. They must understand how the new flattened world gives rise to threats and opportunities across the spectrum from state actors to empowered individuals.

Films of MoS2 were grown at various thickness, onto silicon substrates at room temperature using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Planar and cleaved cross sectional samples examined in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that very thick films (greater than about 450 nm) transitioned from being fully dense to having extensive porosity. The porosity is directly correlated with the accumulated incorporation of spherical particles within the film. Simulation of the deposition process by adding digitized, binary transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images from PLD MoS2 films of differential thicknesses to an equivalent total thickness of 450 nm indicated that the critical thickness for the onset of porosity occurs when the projected area fraction of the particles is approximately 30%.

PbMoO4 is a potential solid lubricant for use at elevated temperatures in oxidizing environments. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) was utilized to grow thin films of this material because it allows good control over film chemistry and crystallinity. Films were grown at different substrate temperatures in vacuum and in partial pressures of oxygen. The chemistry and crystallinity of the films were evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and glancing angle X-ray diffraction. Friction coefficients and wear lives were measured using a ball-on-flat tribometer at room temperature and 700‡C. Films deposited in vacuum, at room temperature and at 300‡C, were oxygen deficient. To adjust chemistry and crystallinity, films were grown in a partial pressure of oxygen (i.e. 6.7×10−1 Pa). Stoichiometric, crystalline films of PbMoO4 were produced when films were grown at 300‡C in this environment. PbMoO4 films were lubricious (Μ = 0.35) and long lived at 700‡C, but at room temperature had high friction and failed quickly. The properties of the films grown at the different conditions are discussed.

Niobium diselenide has potential for use as a solid lubricant, but to achieve the optimal properties of low friction coefficient, high conductivity and oxidation resistance, the Se/Nb ratio and crystallinity must be carefully controlled. It has been shown that pulsed laser deposition (PLD) permits the required degree of control, even over films with complex stoichiometries. In this study, a designed experimental approach was chosen to look at the major trends across the upper and lower limits of the PLD process for niobium diselenide. Film chemistry and crystallinity were evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and glancing-angle X-ray diffraction. This study has shown that film chemistry can be changed from substoichiometric to superstoichiometric, and crystallinity varied between amorphous and crystalline, by appropriate choice of PLD parameters. The property correlations developed and the acquisition system used will be described.

Niobium diselenide (NbSe2) has potential for use as a solid lubricant in high temperature and space environments. Earlier research on similar lubricant materials, such as MoS2 and WS2, has demonstrated that Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) is an excellent technique for growing high quality thin films. Using a statistical design of experiments approach, the deposition parameter‐film property correlations were determined for NbSe2 grown by PLD. Film properties were evaluated using x‐ray spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and glancing angle x‐ray diffraction. Friction and wear measurements were taken on a ball‐on‐flat tribometer. The impact of this work is that a map of PLD parameter space has been determined, permitting the adjustment of film stoichiometry from substoichiometric to superstoichiometric and crystallinity from amorphous to crystalline.

Nomarski photography and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been applied to the study of the effects of low Earth orbit on MgF2, ThF4 and SiO2 optical coatings. These sample coatings were part of NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), which flew in low Earth orbit for nearly 6 years. Numerous craters, cracks and other artifacts of the space environment were observed. Oxidation of the fluoride films was also noted.

Niobium diselenide has potential for use as a conductive lubricant, but to achieve the optimal properties of low friction coefficient, high conductivity and oxidation resistance, the Se/Nb ratio and crystallinity must be carefully controlled. It has been shown that Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) permits the required degree of control, even over films with complex stoichiometrics. (4-8). In this study, PLD was used to grow stoichiometric, crystalline thin films of niobium diselenide and to study the effects of laser deposition parameters on film properties. Film chemistry and crystallinity were evaluated using XPS, RBS, and glancing angle XRD. Friction and wear measurements were taken on a ball-on-flat tribometer. The deposition apparatus incorporates a fully computerized data acquisition and control system that facilitated the correlation of the laser deposition parameters to film properties. This study has shown that film chemistry could be changed from substoichiometric to superstoichiometric and crystallinity varied between amorphous to highly crystalline by appropriate choice of PLD parameters. The property correlations and acquisition system mat permitted the identification of the optimal growth conditions will be described.