Programme Overview
What is Cohesion Dynamics?
Cohesion Dynamics (CD) is a theoretical framework proposing that physical reality emerges from the behavior of discrete informational structures governed by constraint satisfaction, admissibility, and closure—rather than from forces, continuous fields, or spacetime as primitive entities.
The framework seeks to:
- Ground physics in minimal ontological commitments: A discrete substrate with finite alphabet, local constraints, and closure semantics
- Derive known physics as emergent: Quantum mechanics, spacetime geometry, and gravity arise from substrate mechanics without being assumed
- Make falsifiable predictions: The theory produces specific, testable predictions that distinguish it from standard quantum field theory and general relativity
- Maintain disciplined research structure: Different paper series serve distinct epistemic roles (foundational, formal, empirical, predictive)
Core Ontological Primitives
CD operates on Cohesive Informational Units (CIUs): structures defined by closure under admissibility, not by spatial boundaries or particle-like entities.
Key substrate primitives:
- Alphabet Σ: Finite set of elementary informational states
- Locations V: Discrete substrate locations (no background spacetime assumed)
- Constraints 𝒞: Local rules determining which configurations are admissible
- Mismatch M: Unassigned informational degrees of freedom
- Tolerance W: Finite admissibility window constraining joint closure
Key operations:
- Relaxation: Exploratory admissibility—provisional configurations explored within constraint space
- Closure: The sole committing operation—fixes configuration when stable under further relaxation
- Reconciliation: Attempted joint closure of divergent provisional paths
- Partition: Occurs when mismatch exceeds tolerance W, making joint closure inadmissible
Research Programme Structure
The CD programme is organized into distinct series, each with a specific epistemic role:
Foundational & Formal Series
| Series | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| F | Foundational Postulates | States minimal ontological commitments and conceptual foundations |
| K | Kernel Grammar & Invariants | Defines kernel grammar (K-KERN) and structural invariants; what must be possible |
| A | Carrier Architectures | Explicit carrier implementations realizing kernel invariants; how capabilities can be realized |
| M | Formal Mechanisms | Formalizes structural mechanisms: cohesion, modes, tolerance, phase |
Derivation Series
| Series | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| B | Structural Superposition & Representational Consequences (v2) | Derives structural consequences from Axioms v2 kernel |
| G | Geometry & Gravity | Derives time, distance, geometry, and gravity from cohesion dynamics |
| J | Journal-Targeted Anchor Papers | Conditional reconstruction theorems for peer review |
Note: B-series v1 (archived) used tolerance-based semantics and is retained for historical reference only at publishing/papers/archive/B-series-v1/. B-series v2 (active) is kernel-aligned with Axioms v2/A-OPS v2/A-NET v2 and supersedes v1.
Empirical & Predictive Series
| Series | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| E | Empirical Narrowing | Eliminative simulation testing to narrow possibilities |
| R | Reference & Classification | Synthesis and structured classification of results |
| P | Predictions | Precise, falsifiable predictions for empirical testing |
| X | Exploratory Simulations | Exploratory research in extreme regimes (non-normative) |
See the Research Programme page for detailed guidance on how to evaluate different types of papers.
Key Conceptual Shifts
1. Closure, Not Continuous Evolution
CD does not assume continuous time evolution or differential equations as primitive. Instead:
- Closure is the fundamental operation that commits informational state
- Apparent continuous dynamics arise from sequences of closure events
- Time emerges from closure-cycle accumulation (G-series)
2. CIUs Are Not Particles
CIUs are not point-like objects with positions and momenta. They are:
- Closure-defined structures: identity determined by closure-stable invariants
- Relationally connected: no background space; all structure from admissible reconciliation
- Compositionally emergent: hierarchical constructors form through precedence
3. Tolerance W Gates Admissibility, Not Structure
The tolerance window W is often misunderstood as a “merge control” or structural parameter. Correctly:
- W constrains which configurations may participate in joint closure
- Structure arises from constraint binding and closure mechanics, not from W directly
- W regulates pre-structural exploration; structure arises from constraint satisfaction
4. Mismatch Is Not Error
Mismatch represents unassigned informational degrees of freedom—information that cannot yet be stably assigned under current admissibility conditions. It is:
- Not violation or instability
- Under-determination, not pathology
- The substrate’s way of exploring provisional configurations before closure
How Papers Fit Together
- F-series states what we assume (minimal ontology)
- Axioms v2 defines the kernel (commits, closure as anchoring, consistency structures, irreconcilability)
- A-OPS v2 operationalizes the kernel (CIU, constraint, admissibility, structural primitives)
- A-NET v2 defines structural path bias (non-metric reconciliation connectivity)
- A-series (Paper A) provides symbolic substrate mechanics
- M-series explains mechanisms (cohesion, modes, tolerance, phase, ledger)
- B-series v2 derives structural consequences from kernel (branching, non-factorisability, irreconcilability, closure-preserving transport)
- G-series derives geometry and gravity from cohesion dynamics
- E-series eliminates incompatible regimes through simulation
- R-series organizes and classifies results
- P-series makes testable predictions
Important: B-series v1 (archived) is not part of the active programme structure. B-series v2 (active) supersedes v1 and is kernel-aligned with Axioms v2.
No series depends normatively on E-series results (eliminative, not confirmatory). P-series predictions are independent of parameter tuning.
Current Programme Status
The Cohesion Dynamics research programme is pre-publication. Papers are being prepared for external sharing with reviewers and the research community.
Key papers nearing completion:
- E-W3: Eliminative constraints on tolerance window W
- G4: Gravity from cohesion gradients
- P-DM1: Dark matter halo core scaling prediction
This site serves as the official programme documentation and will be updated as papers are finalized.
For Reviewers and Critics
Different paper series invite different types of evaluation:
- F-series: Evaluate ontological minimality and conceptual clarity, not empirical derivation
- Axioms v2 / A-OPS v2 / A-NET v2: Evaluate kernel coherence, structural consistency, elimination of tolerance assumptions
- A-series: Evaluate formal coherence and mathematical rigor (symbolic substrate layer)
- M-series: Evaluate mechanism definitions and explanatory power
- B-series v2: Evaluate whether structural consequences follow from kernel; do not reference or cite B-series v1 (archived)
- G-series: Evaluate derivations and geometric emergence
- E-series: Evaluate simulation methodology and reproducibility (eliminative, not confirmatory)
- P-series: Evaluate prediction precision and falsification criteria
See Research Programme for detailed guidance.
B-series v1 Archive Notice: B-series v1 papers (archived at publishing/papers/archive/B-series-v1/) used tolerance-based semantics and are retained for historical reference only. They are not kernel-aligned with Axioms v2 and must not be cited as authoritative sources. All active B-series work is B-series v2.
Next Steps
- New to CD? Start with Introduction and About
- Want formal details? See the Ontology and Papers Index
- Want to understand programme structure? Read the full Research Programme page
- Looking for predictions? See the Predictions page
This is a draft pre-publication site. Content is subject to revision as papers are finalized.
Last updated: December 2025