088284

We aim to determine the frequency and characteristics of X-ray emission from RV Tau variables stars. Only one RV Tau variable star has been targeted by modern X- ray observatories and its detected X-ray emission is surprising and difficult to understand. We request 140 ks to study a pilot sample of four RV Tau variable stars in order to establish if X-ray emission is ubiquitous amongst these luminous and pulsating stars. The requested observations would determine the characteristics of any X-ray emission and help identify the origin of the X-ray emission. As known and suspected binary systems discovering X-ray emission from these stars can open new windows into binary evolution at their intermediate stages. [truncated! Please see actual data for full text]