Source Detection in Simulated XMM-Newton Observations

We present preliminary results from our on-going study: Comparing and optimizing source detection procedures for XMM images. By constructing realistic spatial and spectral source distributions and ``observing'' these through the XMM Science Simulator we study how source characteristics and instrumental effects influence detection. We are currently undertaking a statistical analysis on the outcome of running source detection algorithms on the simulated EPIC pn and MOS images in various energy bands. Particular emphasis is on the efficiency and reliability for detecting the faint, extended emission from distant clusters of galaxies. Here we present simulated EPIC images applicable to the XMM Large-scale Structure Survey (10 ksec pointings of ``blank fields''). However, we emphasize that our procedure is flexible, including as many realistic source characteristics and instrumental effects as possible, and yet modest in computational demand. As such it can be used for simulating XMM data obtained from virtually any X-ray source. All simulation products are made available at our website (http://www.astro.ku.dk/xcosmos/).