Galaxy Wakes as Probes of Cluster Merger Dynamics

Wakes generated as galaxies move through hot intracluster gas are important intheir own right, since stripping and accretion can have profound effects ongalaxy evolution. Wakes also provide valuable diagnostics of galaxy propertiesand cluster dynamics. Previous Xray observatories have been able to study onlya small number of especially bright and nearby galaxy wakes. With XMM,simulations show that we have the possibility of imaging a whole sample of wakeswithin a single cluster of suitably chosen temperature. We propose to usesuch a sample of wakes as weather vanes, to map the gas flows which arepredicted to occur during cluster mergers, by observing the nearby Herculescluster, which is ideal for this purpose. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]