Λ as a Categorization Error: A Structural Alternative to Dark Energy

This paper develops the ΛCE framework, a structural reinterpretation of late‑time cosmic acceleration that eliminates the need for dark energy. ΛCE models spacetime through two complementary layers: a smooth metric layer governed by general relativity and a deeper combinatorial layer governed by HU‑doubling adjacency growth. At small scales these layers align closely, but at cosmological distances their mismatch accumulates into a measurable effect traditionally interpreted as acceleration. The key innovation is the strain function S(r), which quantifies the representational mismatch between layers. Integrating this strain along photon paths yields a redshift law that reproduces the observed curvature of the supernova Hubble diagram without invoking a cosmological constant or exotic fields. Early‑universe physics—including the CMB, BAO, and primordial nucleosynthesis—remains unchanged, as ΛCE does not modify the Friedmann equations or the matter–radiation content of the universe. ΛCE reframes late‑time acceleration as a structural effect arising from the interplay between a continuous metric representation and a faster‑expanding combinatorial structure. This reinterpretation dissolves the cosmological constant problem, preserves the successes of ΛCDM, and yields clear, testable predictions for late‑time cosmology. The ΛCE framework thus offers a conservative, falsifiable alternative to dark‑energy‑driven acceleration, grounded in the architecture of spacetime itself. v4