Hubble Tension as a Channel Problem: A Minimal Capture Model (eta) and Three Friendly Tests

This preprint reframes the Hubble tension as a channel-equivalence problem in the mapping from observational data to H0, rather than as an immediate conflict requiring new cosmology. Core model:H_obs(Φ) = η(Φ) · H_int, where η(Φ) ∈ (0,1] is a channel-dependent capture/projection factor arising from inference structure (priors, compression targets, selection/masking, calibration transfer). Included:• Figure 1: Mechanism (tension ratio as capture ratio)• Figure 2: Pipeline diagram locating the capture step in CMB vs distance-ladder inference• Figure 3: Monte Carlo proof-of-possibility showing separated inferred-rate distributions under channel-dependent capture• Three “friendly tests” designed to run inside existing workflows with minimal disruption. Author: Sung Sil Chung Watermark: sung sil chung — 2026-02-24