In search of merging black holes in interacting galaxies

Merging AGN pairs in interacting galaxies provide a rich laboratory for studyingthe triggering of AGN activity and its evolution, starbursts, merging blackholes, and the blackhole galaxy coevolution. We propose to search for such AGNpairs in a carefully chosen sample of interacting galaxies. Our observingstrategy is based on the analysis of successes and failures of previous suchefforts. The hard Xray response of XMMNewton is important in unveiling theseburied AGNs and disentangling the starburst component. We request exploratoryobservations of five targets to study starbursts and unveil binary AGNs. Theproposed program has a component of guaranteed scientific return and one ofdiscovery space. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]