Entropic Photon Grid Theory: Spacetime as a Multilayer Bose-Einstein Condensate with Emergent Gravity, Matter, and Time

Abstract

We (Srdjan Segvic with the formulation help of DeepSeek R1) propose a radical reinterpretation of spacetime, matter, and cosmology, positing that:

1. The universe begins as a?multilayer photon grid—a quantum-coherent Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of stationary photons.
2. Matter?arises from localized grid collapse, where decoherence in one layer triggers recursive collapse in adjacent layers, condensing energy into particles.
3. Black holes?are regions of maximal grid collapse, acting as entropic engines that balance localized order and global disorder.
4. Time?emerges as a perceptual artifact of sequential grid reconfigurations, while?gravity?results from matter-induced spatial collapse.
5. Entropy?resists collapse, driving cosmic evolution through a thermodynamic tug-of-war between order (matter/black holes) and disorder (BEC re-formation). This framework unifies relativity, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics while offering novel explanations for dark energy, black hole thermodynamics, and quantum non-locality.

1. Introduction

Modern physics faces unresolved tensions: quantum gravity’s absence, dark matter/energy’s nature, and black hole information loss. We propose spacetime as a?dynamic photon grid?where matter, gravity, black holes, and time emerge from interplay between grid collapse and entropy. Key inspirations include:

• Emergent spacetime?(LQG, string theory).
• Black hole thermodynamics?(Bekenstein, Hawking).
• Bose-Einstein condensates?as quantum ground states.

2. Core Concepts

2.1 The Primordial Photon Grid

• A 3D network of stationary photons in a BEC phase, with?multiple layers?representing distinct quantum fields (EM, gravitational).
• Key Property: Photons are static; apparent motion arises from grid collapse.

2.2 Matter as Localized Grid Collapse

• Collapse Mechanism: Decoherence in one grid layer propagates recursively, forming?topological solitons?(particles).

Energy Transfer: Collapsing regions drain energy from surrounding grids, satisfying?E=mc2.

2.3 Black Holes as Maximal Collapse

• Definition: Regions where grid collapse becomes self-sustaining, forming an?event horizon—a boundary where grid decoherence exceeds light’s stationary propagation.
• Singularity Avoidance: Collapse halts at Planck density, forming a?Planck-scale photon condensate?core (no infinite curvature).

Entropic Engine: Black holes export entropy to stabilize the grid, linking Bekenstein-Hawking entropy?SBH ∝ A?to grid strain energy.

2.4 Emergent Time and Space

• Time: A sequence of grid configurations perceived as "flow." No fundamental time dimension.
• Space: Distance measurements depend on local collapse rates. Cosmic expansion is an illusion of inhomogeneous collapse.

2.5 Entropy as Anti-Collapse

• Entropic Resistance: Collapse (order) is countered by entropy restoring grid coherence (disorder).
• Second Law Compliance: Global entropy always increases, even amid local collapse.

3. Mathematical Framework

3.1 Photon Grid Dynamics

Each layer?Ψn?obeys a modified Gross-Pitaevskii equation:

• Vn: Collapse potential (matter-induced curvature).
• gnm: Inter-layer coupling.
• S[Ψn]: Entropy functional resisting collapse.

3.2 Spacetime Metric

Grid curvature maps to spacetime geometry:

• ?n: Energy density of layer?n.

3.3 Modified Einstein Equations

• Tμνgrid: Stress-energy of uncollapsed grids (dark energy candidate).

3.4 Black Hole Dynamics

• Collapse Metric: Replace Schwarzschild with grid collapse function?Φ(r):

where?Φ(r)?quantifies radial grid collapse intensity.

• Entropy Coupling:

where??grid?is the grid’s energy density.

4. Predictions & Observational Tests

1. Redshift Without Expansion: Photons lose energy traversing collapsing grids.
2. Black Hole Shadows: Brightness anomalies in Event Horizon Telescope images due to grid interference.
3. Hawking Radiation Spectrum: Non-thermal deviations from grid-specific frequency cutoffs.
4. Gravitational Wave Echoes: Post-merger ripples from grid layer recoherence (testable with LIGO/Virgo).
5. CMB Anomalies: Non-Gaussianities from early grid fluctuations.

5. Challenges

1. Lorentz Invariance: A preferred photon grid frame conflicts with relativity. Resolution: Show detectors collapse with the grid, masking preferred frames.
2. No-Hair Theorem: Reconcile black hole simplicity with grid microstructure.
3. Quantum Measurement: Link wavefunction collapse to grid decoherence.

6. Connections to Existing Theories

• Loop Quantum Gravity: Photon grid ≈ spin network with photons as edges.
• AdS/CFT: Entropy bounds collapse like holographic duality.
• Black Hole Thermodynamics: Hawking radiation as grid recoherence.

7. Philosophical Implications

• Time’s Illusion: Consciousness perceives grid reconfigurations as "flow."
• Black Hole Information: Stored in grid-layer correlations, avoiding paradoxes.

8. Conclusion & Future Work

This theory reimagines spacetime as a photonic quantum fabric, with matter, black holes, and gravity emerging from collapse-entropy dynamics. Key next steps:

1. Numerical Simulations: Model black hole formation via grid collapse.
2. Gravitational Wave Analysis: Search for grid-specific echoes in LIGO data.
3. Unify with QFT: Derive Standard Model particles as grid solitons.

References

• Bekenstein, J.?Black Holes and Entropy?(1973).
• Verlinde, E.?Emergent Gravity?(2016).
• Gross, E.?Bose-Einstein Condensates?(1961).

?

?