PURPOSE: To obtain a storage device, in which approximately an atomic space is employed as an area occupied by the unit of storage, by bringing a thin needle, a tip section of which has the size of approximately the atomic space, at the distance of approximately the atomic space, applying voltage to the needle and displacing the arrangement of a dimer with a surface near the needle.
CONSTITUTION: A thin needle 2, a tip section of which has the size of approximately an atomic space (approximately several ), is brought near to an atom existing in the surface of a material (such as a semiconductor) having the smooth surface at the distance of approximately the atomic space, voltage is applied to the needle 2, and the arrangement of a dimer (a pair composed of two atoms) on the surface near the needle 2 is displaced by utilizing a tunnel effect as a quantum mechanical effect, thus storing one unit (one bit) of information. Accordingly, information can be stored in an area from one several millionth as large as a conventional area to one several hundred millionth because information is stored by using the stable state of an atomic level.
UDA TAKESHI
IMURA AKIRA
