Search for the X-ray counterpart of the new TeV source HESS J1302-631

HESS has discovered a new TeV source at high significance (virgul20sigma) in theGalactic plane, at 0.6deg North of PSR B125963: HESS J1302631. This new sourceis extended (0.2deg) and exhaustive searches in existing broadband data,including the very preliminary results of a 5ks Chandra DDT observation in lateSept 2004, have revealed no obvious counterparts. The large sensitivity of XMMNewton/EPIC and its energy range up to 15keV are required to identify the Xraycounterpart of this new TeV source despite the obscuration by gas in theGalactic plane. A 30ks observation will allow us to obtain morphological andspectral information in order to identify the physical nature of this new sourcewhich may be representative of a new class of high energy gammaray sources. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]