The XMM-Newton Serendipitous Survey I. The role of XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre

Abstract

This paper describes the performance of XMM-Newton for serendipitous surveys and summarises the scope and potential of the XMM-Newton Serendipitous Survey. The role of the Survey Science Centre (SSC) in the XMM-Newton project is outlined. The SSC's follow-up and identification programme for the XMM-Newton serendipitous survey is described together with the presentation of some of the first results.

9 pages, 4 figs, accepted for A&A Letters, XMM issue, version with higher resolution figs available from http://xmmssc-www.star.le.ac.uk/papers