  Transition-edge sensors are a type of superconducting detector that offers
high energy resolution based on their sharp resistance-temperature feature in
the superconducting-to-normal transition. TES X-ray microcalorimeters have
typically been designed and used for spectroscopic applications. In this work,
we present a design optimization for a TES X-ray microcalorimeter array for
high-energy scattering and diffraction measurements. In particular, Compton
scattering provides information about the electron momentum distribution, while
energy dispersive diffraction provides structural information about dense
engineering materials. Compton scattering and energy dispersive diffraction
experiments must be conducted in the very hard X-ray regime (~ 100 keV),
demanding a high X-ray stopping power in the detector; therefore, an absorber
with a large heat capacity is needed in conjunction with the TES. In addition,
both applications would benefit from an array composed of parallel strips. We
present a design for a TES X-ray microcalorimeter optimized for such
applications. In particular, we model the longitudinal position dependence due
to the finite thermal diffusion time in the absorber.
