Abstract: An optical information carrier includes a cylinder (1) with a recording layer (2) and bushings (3,4) located at butt ends of the hollow cylinder (1) and insulating the recording layer (2) from the environment. A method for erasing information recorded on the optical carrier uses a high-frequency electrical discharge produced inside the air-tight closed space (5) of the hollow cylinder (1). An optical storage device realizing the method includes an erasing unit (11) having a circuit for initiating a high-frequency discharge, which has electrodes (12,13) between which the optical carrier (10) is located so that the high-frequency discharge is initiated inside the closed air-tight space (5).

Abstract: A method for photothermal information recording, reading and erasing consists in that the surface of a recording medium (1) is charged prior to the photothermal recording process and then exposed, during photothermal information recording and erasing, to a modulated electromagnetic beam (8) localized to a spot size of the order of one information unit with the energy exceeding the energy required for softening the material of the recording medium (1), and, during information readout, with the energy less than that for softening the material of the recording medium (1), the surface of the recording medium (1) being discharged before erasing information.

Abstract: An optical information carrier includes a cylinder (1) with a recording layer (2) and bushings (3,4) located at butt ends of the hollow cylinder (1) and insulating the recording layer (2) from the environment. A method for erasing information recorded on the optical carrier uses a high-frequency electrical discharge is produced inside the air-tight closed space (5) of the hollow cylinder (1). An optical storage device realizing the method includes an erasing unit (11) having a circuit for initiating a high-frequency discharge, which has electrodes (12,13) between which the optical carrier (10) is located so that the high-frequency discharge is initiated inside the closed air-tight space (5).

Abstract: Disclosure is made of an optical memory wherein a cylindrical information carrier (2) is disposed in a stationary cylindrical container (14) filled with a liquid or gaseous medium transparent for the radiation flux emitted by a source (1) of modulated coherent radiation. The cylindrical information carrier (2) is equipped with a rotational drive. A recording coating (12) is applied on a tubular base (11) of the cylindrical information carrier (2). The cylindrical information carrier (2) is optically connected with the source (1) of modulated coherent radiation and with an addressing unit (3) arranged so that its optical elements can move axially with respect to the cylindrical information carrier (2).