The Physical Foundations of the Viscoelastic Continuum (DUT): Quantum Decoherence as the Origin of the Dead Substrate

The Dead Universe Theory (DUT) proposes a non-singular cosmology where the observable universe emerges from a coherent, non-dynamical fundamental state Ψ₀, characterized by the absence of a time arrow and effective null entropy. The transition to a classical regime is mediated by an internal symmetry breaking, generating a structural substrate Ξ_μν from which geometry, baryonic matter (as topological defects), and electromagnetic radiation emerge hierarchically. DUT reproduces key cosmological data (CMB, BAO, SNe Ia) without fundamental dark energy and introduces a clear falsification criterion based on the structure growth index. The model is formalized via a variational action for Ξ_μν and its couplings, with numerically calibrated parameters. The DUT Creation Module establishes only the minimal temporal scale derivable from the potential, avoiding underdetermined micro-chronologies and shielding the theory from falsification by instruments optimized for a ~13.8 Gyr universe.