A search for cyclic activity in the nearby stars Alpha Cen and Procyon

We propose to observe the nearby inactive stars Alpha Cen and Procyonregularly with XMM. Both sources are visible to XMM in 6 month intervals.Both stars are very close and hence the allow the detection of weak fluxeseven at higher energies. Specifically solarlike Xray flux variationsin the 1 8 Angstrom band pass (as measured by GOES) will be detectablewith XMM EPIC. Also, for each observation a good XMM RGS spectrum will beobtained so that spectral changes over a time scale of years can bedetected and analysed. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]