Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an installation for identifying an object. An identification mark (12) is made on the actual object using electrical discharges (28) between a metal tip (21), such as that of a local-probe microscope, and the substrate (22) formed by the object. The discharges (28) are produced through a composite dielectric medium (25) and produce an impression (23) which can be identified by read means, such as a microprobe, and has a particular physical nature and/or a particular chemical composition. Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to obtain a very secure identification and authentication mark that can be applied directly to the actual object to be identified or authenticated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a component of composite structure (10) consisting of a layer of ferroelectric material (11) and at least a thin film of semiconductor material or of a thin metal or supraconducting film (12) in close contact with the layer of ferroelectric material (11). It further comprises means for generating local modifications of the ferroelectric material polarization. This mechanism includes a device for applying a voltage between at least one punctiform electrode (13) arranged for selectively scanning the composite structure (10) surface facing that consisting of the semiconductor or thin metal or supraconducting film (12), and the semiconductor or thin metal or supraconducting film.