092253

Dual AGN are predicted to be a critical stage of galaxy merger-driven SMBHgrowth. Most dual AGN searches target late-stage mergers while few studies haveprobed dual AGN at larger separations. Yet simulations predict that AGN canbecome Compton-thick after the first pericenter passage of the hosts suggestingthat wider separation dual AGN may represent an important stage of growth alongthe merger sequence. We propose a 170ks X-ray (EPIC) and UV (OM) XMM-Newtonprogram to observe 23 wide-separation dual AGN candidates selected using opticalspectra and mid-IR imaging. Using XMM we will (1) search for dual X-ray pointsources (2) constrain the X-ray spectral properties of each source and (3)perform SED fitting using archival photometry in concert with XMM EPIC and OM imaging. [truncated! Please see actual data for full text]