X-rays from Merging Galaxies

GTIt is well established that merging galactic systems can result in extremelypowerful starburst phenomena. Previous evidence is based mostly on infraredobservations. However it is equally important to understand the role of Xrayemission, to determine the temperature, metallicity and emission measure of theextended plasma. This will constrain the energetics of the expulsion, withimplications for the properties of the nuclear starburst. The targets areselected to cover morphologies ranging from extended tidal structures to morecompact merging systems with double nuclei. The results will have widerimplications for understanding the phenomenon in more distant galaxies, and interms of the contribution of starburst galaxies to the XRB. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]