The Cascade Series

RTAC · March 2026 · DOI
The infinite-dimensional unit ball, descended to four dimensions, is indistinguishable from our universe.

The cascade series tests one hypothesis with zero free parameters. From a single axiom (orthogonality), the series derives the cosmological constant, quantum mechanics, general relativity with d=4 and Lorentzian signature, the Standard Model gauge group and its symmetry breaking, three fermion generations, precision mass and coupling predictions, and the background cosmological parameters including a Planck-compatible Hubble constant and a universe age of 13.88 Gyr.

Predictions

One hypothesis. Zero free parameters. Every prediction below is a test of the hypothesis.

Tier 1 — Exact: Forced by Uniqueness Theorems

Mathematical uniqueness proofs leave no alternative. These are not approximations.

PredictionValueStatusSource
Spacetime dimensiond = 4ConfirmedLovelock ∩ Clifford (III)
Metric signature(−,+,+,+)ConfirmedPropagator + Clifford (III)
Gauge groupSU(3) × SU(2) × U(1)ConfirmedAdams + Bott (IVa)
Symmetry breakingSU(2) broken; SU(3), U(1) exactConfirmedHairy ball theorem (IVa)
Fermion generationsExactly 3ConfirmedBott periodicity + d1=19 (IVa)
Dark energy EoSw = −1 exactlyConfirmedFixed geometric constant (III)
Strong CP phaseθQCD = 0Confirmedπ3(S11) = Z2 (IVa)
No supersymmetryConfirmed (LHC)No pairing mechanism (IVa)
No dark matter particlesConfirmed (null results)Geometry provides content (V)
No extra Higgs bosonsConfirmed (LHC)One hairy ball zero (IVa)
No gravitonsNot yet testableMetric is state property, not quantised field (II=III, III)

Tier 2 — Derived: Closed-Form, Zero Free Parameters

Numerical predictions from cascade geometry. Formulas are exact; deviations reflect leading-order truncation.

ObservableFormulaPredictedObservedDev.
ρΛ / M4Pl,red18 · Ω19 · Ω217 / π30.6996 × 10−1200.7150 × 10−120−2.2%
ΩΛ(π−1)/π0.68170.685 ± 0.007−0.5%
Ωm1/π0.31830.315 ± 0.007+1.1%
Ωr1/(4π7)8.28 × 10−58.27 × 10−5+0.1%
TCMBfrom Ωr, H02.642 K2.7255 K−3.1%
H0from ρΛ, ΩΛ66.78 km/s/Mpc67.4 ± 0.5−0.9%
t0ΛCDM integral13.88 Gyr13.80 ± 0.02+0.6%
mH / mWπ/21.57081.559+0.8%
mμ / meexp(ΔΦ) · 2√π206.50206.77+0.13%
megeometric-topological0.514 MeV0.511 MeV+0.6%
mμgeometric-topological106.2 MeV105.66 MeV+0.5%
αs(MZ) leadingα(12) · exp(ΔΦ)0.11590.1179 ± 0.0009−1.7%
sin2θW leadingRadon-Hurwitz ratio0.22860.23121−1.1%

Tier 3 — Precision: Correction-Family Closures

Seven observables close within experimental error via δΦ = α(d*)/χk shifts sourced at Part 0's distinguished dimensions. Three shift-observable pairs reuse the same correction across independent quantities.

ObservableShift sourcePredictedObservedResidual
αs(MZ)α(14)/χ0.117920.1179 ± 0.0009+0.02σ
mτ / mμα(14)/χ16.817316.8170 ± 0.0011+0.24σ
mτ absoluteα(19)/χ1776.82 MeV1776.86 ± 0.12−0.31σ
sin2θWα(5)/χ30.231230.23121 ± 0.00004+0.40σ
Ωm−α(5)/χ30.314740.315 ± 0.007−0.04σ
θC (Cabibbo)−α(7)/χ213.04°13.04 ± 0.05°+0.03σ

Tier 4 — Frontier: Under Active Experimental Test

Specific predictions testable by current or near-future experiments (DESI, Euclid, CMB-S4, SH0ES).

ObservablePredictedCurrent dataStatus
H066.78 km/s/Mpc (Gram-corrected ≈ 67.5)Planck: 67.4 · SH0ES: 73.0Planck-side of Hubble tension; incompatible with SH0ES
rd (sound horizon)≈147.75 MpcPlanck: 147.60 MpcEssentially equal to Planck; cascade and ΛCDM share a ruler
DESI DR2 BAO fitχ2/n = 2.35 (cascade) vs 1.90 (Planck)Two shared outliers at z=0.510, z=0.706Cascade fits slightly worse than Planck; both face same anomalies
DESI w ≠ −1 signalw = −1 exactly (structural theorem)DESI DR2: w ≈ −0.76Challenges cascade and ΛCDM equally; no ruler-based explanation

Tier 5 — Provisional: Derivation Incomplete

Results where the argument has acknowledged gaps or needs strengthening.

ObservableIssue
Ωb = 1/(2π2)“One unit of content on S3” argument needs strengthening
ns, AsPrimordial spectrum not yet derived
Correction selection ruleObservable-to-source assignment not fully derived from first principles

Papers

Cover Sheet
The Thought Experiment, Hypothesis, and Series Overview
PDF
Prelude
Why Nothing Has Structure
PDF
Part 0
Scale Variance from Orthogonality: How the Unit Ball Generates 10120 Orders of Magnitude
PDF
Part 0 Supplement
Inter-Layer Coupling and the Independent-Step Correction
PDF
Part I
The Cosmological Constant from the Observer's Frame
PDF
Part II
Quantum Mechanics from the Cascade: Effective Theory of a 4-Dimensional Observer in the Sphere-Area Geometry
PDF
Part III
General Relativity, Four Dimensions, and Lorentzian Signature from the Cascade
PDF
Part II = III
Quantum Gravity without Quantising Gravity: Why the Quantum and Gravitational Projections of the Cascade Are the Same Theorem
PDF
Part IVa
The Standard Model from the Cascade: Gauge Group, Symmetry Breaking, and Three Generations from Bott Periodicity and Hairy Ball Zeros
PDF
Part IVb
The Standard Model from the Cascade: Masses, Couplings, and Precision Predictions from the Geometric-Topological Factorization
PDF
Part V
Cosmology from the Cascade: ΛCDM Parameters, the Hubble Constant, and the DESI BAO Observations
PDF