<i>XMM-Newton</i>observations of the merger-remnant galaxies NGC 3921 and 7252

Abstract

Using the high sensitivity of XMM-Newton, we have studied the X-ray emission of the two prototypical late-stage merger remnants, NGC 3921 and 7252. In the case of NGC 7252, this is complemented by archival Chandra data. We investigate the nature of the discrete X-ray point source populations and the hot diffuse gas components in these two galaxies, and compare them in the light of their different merger ages and histories.