Cohesion Dynamics — Paper A v0.8
Paper A formalizes the discrete substrate assumed in Cohesion Dynamics as a purely combinatorial system. It defines configurations as symbol-assignments over locations, local constraint systems that specify compatibility, and mismatch as a measure of local inconsistency—without geometry, metrics, or continuum assumptions.
Key Mechanisms:
- Local modification rewrites the symbol at location , affecting only a finite neighborhood.
- Mismatch-decreasing sequences converge to local equilibria (closures); non-unique closure necessitates branch identity (provenance).
- Height quantifies minimum steps to closure; finite on finite regions, possibly infinite on infinite regions.
- Relaxation theory generates emergent structure through local equilibration without global energy or Hamiltonian.
Representational Status: The substrate is interpretation-free—no embedding in physical space, no time coordinate, no geometry. All physical interpretation arises only in cohesive phases at the continuum level (Paper B).
Paper ID: CD-A | Series: A-series (Substrate Mechanics) | Status: Draft v0.8 | Dependencies: CD-F (conceptual foundations)