Q Framework: Charge and the Fine Structure Constant

The Foundation paper posited that charge is dimensionally identical to energy, with dimensions L²/T³ in Q terms and ML²/T² in SI. This paper pursues the consequences of that assignment through the reduced fine structure constant ɑ̄. Decomposing ɑ̄ = e²/(4πε₀ch) via the settled identity Z₀ = 1/(ε₀c) recovers ɑ̄ in volts, consistent with voltage being dimensionless under the charge-as-energy assignment. The e²/(4πh) term is identified as a current I. The force law is recovered with tp² made explicit, which is speculatively identified as 1/fC², linking the EM coupling to the particle identity ö = e/QfC introduced in the Foundation paper. This identification resolves universally across all charged particles including the muon. The standard Coulomb force formula carries no mass term and does not account for inertial resistance. The 1/fC² identification makes this resistance explicit: what appears as a universal charge e is the compound ö·QfC, where fC carries the mass-dependent inertial content and ö is the Q-to-energy conversion signature that is potentially universal among particles with charge. The key identity is that ö is a transduction engine, converting one length dimension numerator to a sequence denominator.