We studied the structures and the phase transition of Pb/Ge(1 1 1) surface by using the reflection high-energy positron diffraction. The surface structures at 60 K and 293 K have the 3 x 3 and root 3 x root 3 periodicities, respectively. The rocking curves measured at both temperatures are nearly the same. This indicates that the equilibrium positions of the surface atoms do not change according to the phase transition. From the analysis of the rocking curve based on the dynamical diffraction theory, we found that at both temperatures the surface structures are composed of the so-called one-up and two-down model. The 3 x 3-root 3 x root 3 phase transition for the Pb/Ge(1 1 1) surface is interpreted in terms of order disorder transition. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.