Open Problems
Ten problems stand between the current framework and its full realisation. Each is a publishable research project. Contributions at any level are welcome.
Critical — Must Solve for Viability
Multi-Electron SED
Derive excited states and multi-electron atomic structure from Stochastic Electrodynamics first principles. The single-particle results (Boyer, Theorem 6.1) must generalise.
Spin-½ from Ether Microphysics
Specify the multi-component order parameter of the ether condensate that generates spin-½ fermions via Volovik’s theorem. Determines the fermion spectrum, gauge structure, and mass hierarchy.
Transverse Vacuum Energy and Λ
Calculate the transverse sector’s vacuum energy contribution from the ether’s multi-component microstructure, constrained by Proposition 6.1 and Corollary 6.2 to ℓ_e ≲ 3 nm. Resolving C3 would simultaneously determine the precise dark energy density and unify three open problems: C3 (dark energy), I1 (EM cutoff), and C2 (spin emergence).
Important — Significantly Strengthens
EM Cutoff Mechanism
Identify the transverse microstructure scale ℓ_e from the multi-component condensate structure. Currently constrained by observation but not derived.
ω_p–ℓ_e Relationship
Derive the connection between the plasma frequency and the EM microstructure scale from a unified ether model.
Nelson Detection Dynamics
Construct a fully explicit derivation of Bell violation from SED field correlations, without using the Nelson bridge theorem as an intermediary.
The Bullet Cluster
Resolve the factor-of-two discrepancy in the two-fluid ether model for the Bullet Cluster. Requires hydrodynamic simulation of the superfluid–normal transition under collision.
Baryon–Phonon Coupling α_bp
Derive the coupling constant α_bp = 1/√2 from the relativistic phonon field equation on an FRW background. Currently adopted empirically.
Multi-Particle Pilot Wave
Proposition 7.3 derives the de Broglie–Bohm guidance equation for a single particle from ether dynamics. For N particles, Bohmian mechanics requires a pilot wave in 3N-dimensional configuration space. The 3-dimensional ether does not straightforwardly support a 3N-dimensional wave. Possible resolutions include emergent configuration space from non-local ether correlations and Valentini’s quantum non-equilibrium approach.
Desirable — Extends Scope
Nonlinear EM Response
Derive the Schwinger critical field behaviour from the ether’s electromagnetic sector.
N-Particle Entanglement
Extend the two-particle Bell analysis to N-particle GHZ and W states within the SED framework.
Tsirelson Bound Derivation
Derive the Tsirelson bound 2√2 as an upper limit from ether properties, rather than from the Hilbert space formalism.
Ether Thermodynamics
Develop the complete thermodynamic description of the ether — entropy, free energy, phase transitions, critical phenomena. The superfluid–normal two-fluid model (Section 4.2) provides a starting point but has not been extended to a full statistical mechanics of the medium.
Stix Tensor from Rotational Microstructure
The off-diagonal elements of the magnetised plasma dielectric (Eq. 5.47) are derived from the linearised equations of motion, but the ether-specific interpretation of why a magnetic field introduces anisotropy at the microphysical level is not developed.
Ready to Contribute?
Every solved problem is a publication. C1 and C2 are the highest impact — their resolution would establish the ether framework as a complete quantum theory.