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Quantum Mechanics of the Timeon Field: Algebraic and Symplectic Framework for Quantum Gravity

Submitted:

11 February 2026

Posted:

12 February 2026

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Abstract
We develop a comprehensive quantum--mechanical and field--theoretic framework for a complex scalar field whose modulus encodes a local time density and whose internal phase carries a \(U(1)\) structure. This field, which we call the timeon, admits a potential with two thermodynamically distinct minima: a null--stress vacuum phase and a deeper condensed atomic phase. We show that localized, finite--energy atomic--phase domains embedded within the vacuum couple naturally to a conventional matter wavefunction psi(x, t), giving rise to a new class of composite eigenstates-Baryon Partner States (BPS). These states are elements of the composite Hilbert space (H_psi tensor H_Phi) and function as the fundamental excitations of the theory. We derive the complete Lagrangian and Hamiltonian governing the timeon field, obtain the coupled Euler--Lagrange equations for the composite system, and construct static, spherically symmetric BPS configurations satisfying regularity and finite--energy boundary conditions. Each BPS exhibits a topologically constrained core, a nontrivial radial profile, and a quantized \(U(1)\) phase winding. These structures endow the states with emergent mass, charge, and confinement properties. Baryonic mass arises entirely from spatial gradients and potential energy of the field configuration; charge originates from the internal phase winding; and confinement emerges as an energetic and geometric necessity---continuous unwinding of the phase is forbidden without traversal of infinite--energy configurations, preventing fractional excitations from existing in isolation. Vacuum--to--atomic tunneling and bubble nucleation processes are analyzed in detail, including energy barriers, critical radii, and transition amplitudes for metastable decay. The local matter density \(|\psi|^2\) acts as a compression parameter that dynamically lowers nucleation thresholds and drives the formation of atomic--phase regions. Linearization about both homogeneous phases and static BPS configurations yields the complete small--oscillation spectrum of the theory; these internal modes form a predictive excitation tower and correspond directly to resonances in scattering processes. By promoting the translational degree of freedom of a BPS to a dynamical modulus, we derive its effective nonrelativistic Lagrangian and identify a renormalized inertial mass. Pairwise interactions between BPSs generate an effective potential consisting of strong short--range repulsion, an intermediate--range attractive well, and Yukawa--like long--range decay. This structure supports two--body bound states, determines low--energy scattering phase shifts, and produces resonances when collision energies match internal excitation frequencies. Extending to many--body systems, we show that BPSs form stable clusters analogous to small nuclei. A systematic low--energy effective field theory is obtained by integrating out internal BPS modes. Together, these results demonstrate that mass, charge, confinement, excitation spectra, scattering behavior, and nuclear--like structure can emerge from the dynamics of a single complex field coupled to a matter wavefunction.
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Copyright: This open access article is published under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, which permit the free download, distribution, and reuse, provided that the author and preprint are cited in any reuse.
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