In search of merging black holes

Merging AGN pairs in interacting galaxies provide a rich laboratory for studyingtriggering of AGN activity and its evolution, starbursts, merging black holes,and the blackhole galaxy coevolution. We propose to search for such AGN pairsin a carefully chosen sample of interacting galaxies. Our observing strategy isbased on the analysis of successes and failures of previous such efforts. Thehard Xray response of XMMNewton is important in unveiling these buried AGNsand disentangling the starburst component. We request exploratory observationsof four targets and a long observation for precision spectroscopy of one targetin which hard point sources were detected with Chandra. Thus the proposedprogram has a component of guaranteed scientific return and one of discovery space. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]