  We present Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of PLCK G036.7+14.9 from the
Chandra-Planck Legacy Program. The high resolution X-ray observations reveal
two close subclusters, G036N and G036S, which were not resolved by previous
ROSAT, optical, or recent Planck observations. We perform detailed imaging and
spectral analyses and use a simplified model to study the kinematics of this
system. The basic picture is that PLCK G036.7+14.9 is undergoing a major merger
(mass ratio close to unity) between the two massive subclusters, with the
merger largely along the line-of-sight and probably at an early stage. G036N
hosts a small, moderate cool-core, while G036S has at most a very weak
cool-core in the central 40 kpc region. The difference in core cooling times is
unlikely to be caused by the ongoing merger disrupting a pre-existing cool-core
in G036S. G036N also hosts an unresolved radio source in the center, which may
be heating the gas if the radio source is extended. The Planck derived mass is
higher than the X-ray measured mass of either subcluster, but is lower than the
X-ray measured mass of the whole cluster, due to the fact that Planck does not
resolve PLCK G036.7+14.9 into subclusters and interprets it as a single
cluster. This mass discrepancy could induce significant bias to the mass
function if such previously unresolved systems are common in the Planck cluster
sample. High resolution X-ray observations are necessary to identify the
fraction of such systems and correct such a bias for the purpose of precision
cosmological studies.
