On the basis of ab initio molecular dynamics and band-structure calculations, and of calculated scanning tunnelling microscopic images, a model was chosen for 3 x 2 reconstruction of the Si-terminated (001) surface of the cubic phase. This was an alternate dimer-row model, with an excess Si coverage of 1/3; yielding scanning tunnelling microscopic images which were in good accord with measurements.

Theoretical Study of the (3 x 2) Reconstruction of β-SiC(001). L.Pizzagalli, A.Catellani, G.Galli, F.Gygi, A.Baratoff: Physical Review B, 1999, 60[8], R5129-32