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

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. Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and the USA (NASA).