Merger Shocks in Clusters of Galaxies

Major mergers of clusters of galaxies are the most energetic events in thepresent Universe. We propose XMM observations of 5 merging clusters to detectshocks in the intracluster gas. We will use these shocks to determine theglobal dynamics and local physics of the intracluster medium. Shock physicswill determine: (a) if the kinetic energy is effectively thermalized inshocks or if much of the shock energy goes into turbulence, magnetic fields,or cosmic rays; (b) if electrons undergo collisionless heating in the shocks;(c) whether the acceleration of relativistic electrons is effective in theseshocks; (d) how angular momentum affects mergers; and (e) what the persistenceof small cooling cores tells us about the dynamics of mergers and peaks in truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]