Unveiling a young quasar: PKS1549-79

Galaxy merger models predict rapid black hole growth and strong outflows late inthe merger as the accretion rate increases. PKS154979 is a powerful, lowredshift active galaxy which has undergone a recent merger. It is therefore anideal object to test our understanding of galaxy activity and mergers and forstudying feedback between AGN and their host galaxies. We propose a 75 ksecXMMNewton observation to: (i) determine the amount and onisation state of thenuclear obscuring material in PKS154979 and hence confirm its status as a localprotoquasar; (ii) search for the massive, probably highly ionised, outflowingwind predicted by galaxy evolution models and hence complete a census of outflowcomponents in this object; and (iii) quantify the starburst activity. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]