{
  "abstract": "Wide-field micropore (lobster eye) optics enable focusing soft X-ray instruments with fields of view of hundreds of square degrees, but square-format modules require careful geometric arrangement to support both wide-area surveys and sensitive pointed observations. We examine this design problem using the X-ray TRansient Array / Micropore Optics X-ray Imager trade study, developed for a NASA Small Explorer mission concept, as a worked example. Single-module performance scaling is combined with geometric survey simulations to compare modular field layouts, overlap regions, and repeated survey tilings. For realistic micropore-optic parameters, increasing module size primarily expands the field of view once the boresight-centered effective area saturates, making modular architecture and field geometry central design variables. A three-module tri-petal configuration, formed by differentially rolling and offsetting three 10 x 10 sq deg square fields, produces a compound field of approximately 240 sq deg with one-module discovery regions, two-module bridge regions, and a compact three-module core. When repeated in a dense hexagonal lattice, the footprint closes gaps, builds a more uniform exposure floor, and provides enhanced-depth survey regions. This geometry offers an efficient compromise among survey coverage, pointed sensitivity, system complexity, and resilience, and can be scaled to larger persistent soft-X-ray monitoring architectures.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.03103",
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Nicholas E. White"
    },
    {
      "name": "Massimiliano Galeazzi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Russell Roberts"
    },
    {
      "name": "Kip D. Kuntz"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fwpa6v677wphm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.03103",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fwpa6v677wphm",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03103",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.IM"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.03103",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fwpa6v677wphm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
      "native_id": "2609.03103",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03103"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.IM",
      "subfield": "instrumentation-methods"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Optimizing Field Geometry for Modular Micropore-Optics Soft X-ray Time-Domain Surveys",
  "title_text": "Optimizing Field Geometry for Modular Micropore-Optics Soft X-ray Time-Domain Surveys",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fwpa6v677wphm",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}