System for recording and readout of information at atomic scale densities and method therefor

A recording and readout information system having atomic scale densities comprises a recording medium having a carrier and means to form a pattern of atomic particles on the surface of the carrier. The atomic particles having an affinity for the carrier and can adhere to the surface to form a relatively adhesive and stable bond. The pattern of atomic particles produced on the carrier are representative of recorded information, e.g. binary represented information, of ultra high density based upon the size and spacing of such particles, which is in the range, for example, of 5 ANGSTROM (0.5 nm) to 10 ANGSTROM (1 nm). A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a recording medium with an adsorbent carrier, means to form a pattern of adsorbate atomic particles on the surface of the adsorbent carrier, the adsorbate atomic particles having an adsorptive affinity for the adsorbent carrier. The adsorptive particles having an adsorptive affinity for the adsorbent carrier due, at least in part, to electrical attraction characteristics between the adsorbate atomic particles and the adsorbent carrier. Readout means, utilizing the tunnel current effect, is employed to determine the presence or absence of the atomic particles on the surface of the carrier and produce an electrical signal representative of the pattern of recorded information on the recording medium.