X-rays from galactic fountain flows in three edge-on galaxies

It is proposed to observe the Xray emission of three edgeon galaxies known to possess extended halos of diffuse ionized gas (DIG) in order to search for an associated hot phase of the interstellar medium (ISM) in their halo. Since models of the ISM describe the presence of halo gas in the context of a large scale transport of matter from the disk into the halo, which is driven by the star formation in the underlying disk, the presence of DIG in the halo is a very good indicator for such a process in action. The spatial distribution and spectral information of the halo gas obtained with XMM will allow us to answer some important questions with regard to the transport mechanisms and energetics of the diskhalo connection. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]