The critical condition for InAs(001) surface phase transition has been studied, the surface phase transition of InAs(001) showed discontinuity with hysteresis cycle as a function of substrate temperature. A mixed reconstruction surface and zig-zag chain alpha 2(2 x 4) reconstruction surface have been observed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Considering the interaction and dynamics of surface arsenic atoms, the zig-zag chains of alpha 2(2 x 4) reconstruction were found to be actually caused by the selective adsorption and desorption of surface arsenic dimers, they played a critical role in the surface phase transition between (2 x 4) and (4 x 2). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.