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: A method of erasing information recorded on an optical carrier which incls an air-tight space having a recording layer on the inner surface thereof, fills the air-tight space with a gas inert in relation to the material of the recording layer and to the material of the carrier under a pressure selected from a range from 10 to 10.sup.3 kPa, and, after the heating process is discontinued, the recording layer is regenerated.

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).

Abstract: Disclosure is made of an optical storage device wherein a cylindrical information carrier (2) with a recording medium (12) applied on a tubular base (9) is disposed in a stationary cylindrical container (3) having a window (4) in the lateral wall thereof. A lens (5) is secured in the window (4) of the cylindrical container (3) to let through the radiation flux from a source (1) of modulated coherent radiation. The cylindrical container (3) is filled with a liquid or gaseous medium transparent for the radiation flux. The length of this cylindrical container (3) is at least twice as long as that of the recording coating (12) applied on the tubular base (9) of the cylindrical information carrier (2) equipped with drives for rotation and axial motion.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive material comprising a metallic layer, an inorganic material layer, and a separation layer disposed between the metallic layer and the inorganic material layer and made from a material inert relative to these layers. The thickness of the separation layer is sufficient to interaction between the metallic layer and the inorganic material layer when said radiation material is exposed to actinic radiation having a power density lower than a threshold value required for causing a local breakdown of the separation layer. A method for recording information on a radiation-sensitive material of the above type, comprising irradiation of said material by pulses of electromagnetic or corpuscular radiation of a duration from 10.sup.-6 to 10.sup.-8 s with the energy density in the area exposed to radiation being not less than 5.10 J/cm.sup.

Abstract: A process of producing a material sensitive to an electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation involves successively depositing, onto a transparent substrate, a layer of a semiconductor, a barrier layer inert to the semiconductor layer and a layer of a metal capable of reacting with the semiconductor layer under the effect of the electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation with the formation of the reaction products. After deposition of the metal layer, there is performed annealing at a temperature equal to or exceeding the temperature of diffusion of the material of the barrier layer into the material of the layers adjacent thereto. The annealing is conducted for a period sufficient for a partial or a complete dissolution of the barrier layer.