Optimizing Field Geometry for Modular Micropore-Optics Soft X-ray Time-Domain Surveys
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.
Related
- Operator‑Spectral Geometry of Rotational Gravity: χ‑Modular Curvature, Spectral Flow, and the Precision Lense–Thirring Measurement of LARES‑2
- Temporal regularization of petal modes in single conjugate adaptive optics systems. The soft-limiter approach
- Overview of multi-conjugate adaptive optics reconstructors
- Cosmology with weak lensing surveys
- On cross-correlating weak lensing surveys
BibTeX
@misc{white2026optimizing,
title = {{Optimizing Field Geometry for Modular Micropore-Optics Soft X-ray Time-Domain Surveys}},
author = {Nicholas E. White and Massimiliano Galeazzi and Russell Roberts and Kip D. Kuntz},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.03103},
eprint = {2609.03103},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03103},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Optimizing Field Geometry for Modular Micropore-Optics Soft X-ray Time-Domain Surveys
AU - Nicholas E. White
AU - Massimiliano Galeazzi
AU - Russell Roberts
AU - Kip D. Kuntz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/02
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.03103
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03103
AB - 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.
ER -