---
abstract: 'We describe detailed simulations of X-ray-emitting populations to evaluate the levels of contamination by both Galactic and extragalactic X-ray sources unrelated to a star-forming region under study. For Galactic contaminations, we consider contribution from main-sequence stars and giants (not including cataclysmic variables and other classes of accretion-driven X-ray binary systems) as they make the dominant contribution at the position of the Carina Nebula. The simulations take into consideration a variety of technical factors involving a Galactic population synthesis model, stellar X-ray luminosity functions, $Chandra$ telescope response, source detection methodology, and possible spatial variations in the X-ray background and absorption through molecular clouds. When applied to the 1.42 square-degree field of the $Chandra$ Carina Complex Project (CCCP), the simulations predict $\sim5000$ contaminating sources (1 source per square arcminute of the survey), evenly distributed across the field. The results of the simulations are further employed in a companion CCCP study to assign membership probabilities to individual sources.'
author:
- 'Konstantin V. Getman, Patrick S. Broos, Eric D. Feigelson, Leisa K. Townsley, Matthew S. Povich, Gordon P. Garmire, Thierry Montmerle, Yoshinori Yonekura, Yasuo Fukui'
title: 'Source Contamination in X-ray Studies of Star-Forming Regions: Application to the [*Chandra*]{} Carina Complex Project'
---

