THE RESPONSE OF GALAXIES TO FLYBY INTERACTIONS

A key concept in modern astrophysics is that galaxy interactions shape galaxyevolution. Though merging galaxies are in many ways understood, how galaxiesbehave in far more common, nonmerging interactions, i.e. flybys, remainsunknown. Based on our previous ROSAT work, suggesting that hot gas is expelledfrom merging spiral galaxies, we can now, by utilizing the high sensitivity andresolution of XMMNewton, explore for the first time the details of the gasejection and starformation processes at various stages of a galaxygalaxyflyby. Such a study will constrain our understanding of flyby encounters, thephysics of starformation and gas ejection, galaxy formation and evolution, theenrichment of the IGM, and the baryon content of the universe. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]