The XMM Large Scale Structure (XMM-LSS) Survey: X-ray analysis and first results

Abstract

Thanks to its unprecedented sensitivity and large field of view, XMM occupies a leading position as a survey instrument. The XMM-LSS survey is a medium-deep large-area X-ray survey, and greatly extends the cosmological tests attempted using earlier studies. While a wealth of complementary multiwavelength studies are taking place, I concentrate here on the XMM-EPIC data, describing aspects of the X-ray pipeline and analysis, and selected first results, including the deepest wide-angle X-ray image of the cosmos to date.