KAPPA — Minimal Unit of Temporal Coherence

KAPPA — Minimal Unit of Temporal Coherence introduces Kappa (κ) as the minimal functional unit required for a system to sustain coherence under continuous stochastic (Brownian) fluctuation over time. Rather than defining a physical particle, force, or energetic quantity, Kappa is formalized as a temporal coherence constraint: the minimal capacity that allows a system to preserve functional identity against irreversible degradation driven by noise. In this framework, stability is not treated as a static condition, but as an active, costly process sustained within finite temporal windows. This paper is explicitly foundational. It does not propose predictive models, optimization strategies, or domain-specific implementations. Its purpose is to establish a precise conceptual grammar upon which calibrated temporal governance frameworks—such as Temporal Entropic Cost (CET), κ-calibration, and temporal cost discretization—can consistently operate across heterogeneous systems. By unifying perspectives from statistical physics, non-equilibrium systems, biology, cognition, technology, and economics, this work positions temporal coherence as a first-class structural variable. Kappa serves as the minimal operational reference for understanding how systems persist, degrade, and ultimately lose viability under stochastic conditions. This document is intended to function as a conceptual baseline for subsequent applied and technical studies, enabling cross-domain comparison without collapsing complexity into performance-based or event-driven metrics.