PURPOSE: To provide a method for recording stable information at a density higher than heretofore particularly without bringing the partial destruction of atom lattice by imparting stable flags to the atoms or atom groups on a solid surface.

CONSTITUTION: The method for imparting the flags stable with lapse of time to the individual atoms or atom groups on the solid surface includes a stage of converting the individual atoms or atom groups to the structural or electronic state different from the initial state without drastically changing the atom lattice structure parallel with the solid surface and without bringing the participation of the different atoms.