The Needles in the Haystack survey: searching for X-ray selected normal galaxies

In this paper we present the first results from an on-going serendipitous survey aiming to identify X-ray selected `normal' galaxies (i.e. not AGN dominated) by combining archival XMM-Newton data with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. In the first 4.5deg2 of this program we have identified a total of 11 `normal' galaxy candidates (8 of them with optical spectroscopy) with fluxes f_X(0.5-8keV)~1e-15-1e-13cgs. These sources are selected to have low X-ray--to--optical flux ratio (logf_X/f_{opt}<-2), soft X-ray spectral properties and optical spectra, when available, consistent with the presence of a stellar ionising continuum. These sources comprise both early and late type systems at redshifts z<0.2 with luminosities L_X(0.5-8keV)~1e39-1e42cgs. This dataset provides the first tight constraint on the surface density of X-ray selected `normal' galaxies at relatively bright fluxes spanning two orders of magnitude (1e-15 - 1e-13cgs). The slope of the `normal' galaxy logN-logS in the above flux range is estimated -1.4\pm0.3 consistent with the euclidean prediction. We also discuss the prospects of `normal' galaxy studies at X-ray wavelengths using both our continuously expanding survey and future X-ray missions.