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Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Thermodynamic Emergence: Deriving the Cuboctahedral Vacuum from Geometric Saturation and Topological Ground States

Authors: Kulkarni, Raghu;

Thermodynamic Emergence: Deriving the Cuboctahedral Vacuum from Geometric Saturation and Topological Ground States

Abstract

We explore the thermodynamic and topological origins of the foundational space- time geometry in the Selection-Stitch Model (SSM) [1, 2]. Rather than assuming a background manifold, we posit that the continuous vacuum emerges from a discrete quantum tensor network evolving to minimize its free energy while resolving the geometric frustration of the early universe. In this framework, the minimal-energy ground state of the Hamiltonian (T →0) is identified as the two-dimensional K = 6 hexagonal sheet. As the tetrahedral foam (K = 4) of Cosmic Inflation expands, it thermodynamically seeks to saturate its open deficit angles. We derive a topologi- cal free energy functional directly from a microscopic partition function, utilizing a controlled cluster expansion bounded by the network’s hard-sphere exclusion limit. This yields a physically motivated kinetic rate equation via non-conserved order parameter dynamics. Drawing on the Kepler Conjecture [6], the absolute maxi- mum density for 3D Euclidean packing caps the coordination at K = 12. While this density is shared by Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) and Hexagonal Close-Packed (HCP) lattices, the FCC lattice is selected during the Alder transition. Under an adiabatic cosmological quench (Γ ≫H), its isotropic point-group symmetry maxi- mizes the phononic density of states, making its vibrational entropy advantage [7, 8] deterministic in the thermodynamic limit. Finally, we demonstrate that the FCC Cuboctahedron is the unique low-energy variational minimum preserving the 2D K = 6 zero-stress Euler state across its 3D bulk.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green