Using surface X-ray scattering and crystal truncation rod (CTR) analys
is we have studied the buried atomic structure at the Pb/Si(111) inter
face. In agreement with previous studies, we observe that the (7 X 7)
reconstruction is preserved at the interface, containing many features
of the Si surface reconstruction and decorated with Pb atoms adsorbed
at on-top sites. The (7 X 7) reconstruction undergoes an irreversible
transition to a (1 X 1) structure between 150 degrees C and 300 degre
es C. Changes in the first-order CTR indicate that the transition from
the bulk Si lattice to the ''bulk-like'' Pb lattice occurs over a sin
gle Pb monolayer at the interface.