Beta Decay as Topological Fracture: Casimir Origin of the Electron Mass

Electron Mass: Derived from the mechanical Casimir force equilibrium of an 861-node toroidal cell with a Compton circumference. Proton Structure: Formulated as a stable Borromean three-loop vortex link whose minimum ropelength and junction nodes account for the proton-to-electron mass ratio. Neutron Metastability: Modeled as a four-loop composite where opposite circulation in the central aperture creates an unstable saddle point, explaining its metastability without arbitrary scalar curves. Beta Decay and Neutrino: The decay represents an unthreading fracture that conserves topological node charge, yields the observed decay energy and lifetime, and emits the antineutrino as a propagating torsional wave.