090187

We propose a first-look survey of ten galaxy clusters that based on optical selection criteria are likely to be bimodal merging clusters capable of constraining dark matter properties. The candidates have and amp amp amp gt 2sigma RASS excesses but otherwise have not been studied with X-rays. By locating the X-ray peak(s) well enough to determine if they have separated from the galaxies the survey has the potential to discover new laboratories to probe the nature of dark matter. In AO19 2 of 12 targets were observed with Priority C both are mergers and one is a textbook example with gas between galaxy subclusters. Given these results we propose to observe the remaining ten with higher priority. [truncated! Please see actual data for full text]