The Cosmic Chi-Horizon: Quasi-Normal Mode Damping, Dark Energy, and the Finite Universe

The Lattice Field Medium (LFM) framework predicts that the universe has a finite extent defined by χ → 0 at cosmic boundaries. We demonstrate that this boundary constitutes a true horizon: light takes infinite coordinate time to reach χ = 0, though finite proper time elapses for the light itself.

This horizon structure has three major consequences:

1. Undamped quasi-normal modes (QNM): Black hole ringdown damping requires energy escape to infinity. With no infinity in LFM, ringdowns exhibit quality factors Q >> 2 rather than the GR prediction of Q ≈ 2.

2. Dark energy as χ-evacuation: The observed accelerated expansion emerges naturally from decreasing χ₀ over cosmic time, as the χ-field evacuates from vacuum space.

3. Horizon-driven expansion: Distant objects appear to accelerate away because they approach the χ = 0 horizon and asymptotically freeze there.

We present rigorous numerical simulations using only the fundamental LFM equations (GOV-01 and GOV-02), confirming that absorbing boundaries produce damping (Q = 9.6) while reflecting boundaries yield no damping (Q = ∞). The horizon analysis shows coordinate time t = (R/c) ln(R/(R-r)) → ∞ as r → R.

Key Results:

• Absorbing boundary: ω_R = 0.0214, ω_I = 0.0011, Q = 9.6
• Reflecting boundary: ω_R = 0.0054, ω_I ≈ 0, Q = ∞
• Coordinate time to horizon diverges logarithmically
• Proper time to horizon remains finite: τ = 2R/(3c)

Falsifiable Predictions:

• QNM quality factors measurably higher than GR predictions (testable with LISA, Einstein Telescope)
• Possible late-time ringdown echoes from energy trapped in finite universe
• Dark energy equation of state w(z) may show evolution with redshift

This package includes the manuscript, experiment scripts (lfm_qnm_rigorous.py, lfm_chi_horizon_analysis.py), publication figures, and result summaries.