Informationsaufzeichnungs- und/oder Wiedergabegerät und Methode

摘要

Apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing information onto/from a medium through a probe electrode by using a scanning tunnel microscope comprises: a voltage applying circuit to apply a voltage between the medium and the probe electrode, in which the recording operation and/or the reproducing operation of the information onto/from the medium are/is executed by applying the voltage by the voltage applying circuit; a distance adjusting mechanism to adjust a distance between the medium and the probe electrode in a manner such that the voltage applied by the voltage applying circuit and the current flowing between the medium and the probe electrode to which the voltage has been applied by the voltage applying circuit satisfy the current-voltage characteristics such that the current between the medium and the probe electrode also changes in accordance with a change in the applied voltage.