A survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud - I

We propose EPIC observations to survey a virgul10 square degree area of the LMC downto a limiting point source luminosity of 2 x 10^33 erg/s. Its proximity makesthe LMC the ultimate target for obtaining a complete inventory of SNRs, Xraybinaries and SSSs, and to study the diffuse emission of the hot ISM. Most importantly, the high throughput of XMMNewton will allow us to perform detailedspectral and temporal analyses of a large fraction of sources. Together with theexisting EPIC data, our observations will create a unique data set to study thestarformation history and its implications on the morphology of the ISM in theLMC. In combination with the existing surveys of the SMC, M31 and M33 this willyield important clues for the evolution of the Local Group as a whole. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]