Hydrodynamics of Merging Clusters

We propose to observe two clusters of galaxies that are undergoing major mergers (A2744 and A1758). These clusters were recently observed by Chandra and exhibit many of the classic features of merging systems: complex Xraymorphologies, NAT radio sources, and radio halos. While great advances havebeen made in observational cosmology over the past decade, there is still much to be learned about the hydrodynamic and relaxation processes that occurduring and after cluster merging.Using the light gathering power of XMMNewton, we can derive a high resolution temperature map and determine if the sharp features seen in the Chandra images are contact discontinuties orshocks, the shock strengths, and the time since the onset of the merger. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]