Skip to content

Fixture Research Note Pattern

Purpose

This note captures the shared documentation pattern for fixture research notes. Each fixture note should explicitly state which spatial-analysis basis is canonical so interpretation does not drift as the fixture family expands from centered / symmetric cases into offset / asymmetric cases.

Canonical Analysis Basis Section

Every fixture research note should include a section with these three fields:

  • Primary analysis basis
  • Companion analysis basis
  • Reason for the choice

Recommended template:

## Canonical Analysis Basis

- Primary analysis basis: `image-center` or `field-relative`
- Companion analysis basis: `field-relative` or `image-center`
- Reason: short explanation of why the primary basis is the correct canonical
  frame for this fixture's geometry and transport interpretation.

Selection Guidance

  • Use image-center as the primary basis when the fixture is symmetric or when the effective field center remains aligned with the image center.
  • Use field-relative as the primary basis when the fixture intentionally introduces asymmetry through off-axis field placement or another shift in the transport origin.
  • Keep the non-primary basis as a companion diagnostic when the shared characterization pipeline can emit it without changing runtime behavior.

Artifact Guidance

When categorical_final is active, future fixture notes should list the artifacts that match the declared basis choice:

  • image-center companions such as radial_profile.* and radial_sector_profile.*
  • field-relative companions such as field_radial_profile.* and field_radial_sector_profile.*

The note should make clear which basis is canonical for interpretation and which basis is retained mainly for continuity, comparison, or screen-space diagnostics.