CHRONON-1 — Progressive Validation of a Local Tempo Field

This working paper defines CHRONON-1, a preregistered and falsifiable experimental validation program for a non-metric local tempo field Φ(x), explicitly constructed to preserve General Relativity as the metric theory (unchanged light-cone structure and standard relativistic dynamics). The protocol tests post-GR differential observables only. All known relativistic effects are modeled, fixed, and subtracted a priori under a frozen analysis pipeline; no post-hoc corrections or parameter tuning are permitted. Any potential signal must therefore appear as a residual structure beyond standard predictions. Validation follows a progressive, gate-based logic (stages 00–04), ranging from methodological credibility (public data, deterministic replication, locked statistics) to a multi-site coherent network signature. The primary endpoint is the signed residual slope ε̂Φ, obtained from vertical optical-clock comparisons and regressed against the dimensionless gravitational exposureX = g Δh / c², using robust, pre-declared estimators. Secondary analyses based on quantum coherence (T₂) and network-level spectral tests are included as non-compensatory consistency checks only: they may invalidate or constrain a signal, but can never rescue a failed primary endpoint. Possible outcomes are strictly restricted to:(i) robust detection,(ii) quantitative constraint, or(iii) formal no-go (non-interpretable result due to a failed validation gate). By construction, every outcome is publishable and interpretable within a fully preregistered decision framework.