  This report deals with the preparation of a clean Ta(110) surface,
investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy as well as
by low-energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. The surface
initially exhibits a surface reconstruction induced by oxygen contamination.
This reconstruction can be removed by annealing at high temperatures under
ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The reconstruction-free surface reveals a surface
resonance at a bias voltage of about -500 mV. The stages of the transformation
are presented and discussed. In a next step, Fe islands were grown on top of
Ta(110) and investigated subsequently. An intermixing regime was identified for
annealing temperatures of (550 - 590) K.
