Finite Reversible Closure: A Discrete Substrate Framework for Quantum Theory, Relativistic Kinematics, Gauge Curvature, Renormalisation, and Emergent Geometry (Paper 8)

Finite Reversible Closure: A Discrete Substrate Framework for Quantum Theory, Relativistic Kinematics, Gauge Curvature, Renormalisation, and Emergent Geometry (Paper 8) Abstract This work presents an eight paper programme establishing a finite reversible closure (FRC) framework in which quantum theory, relativistic kinematics, gauge structure, renormalisation and geometric language arise as scale-dependent compressions of a finite discrete substrate. The primitive layer consists of discrete sequencing (tₚ), discrete adjacency (ℓₚ), finite-dimensional local Hilbert spaces, strictly local finite-depth unitary update, exact gauge constraints on links and a finite propagation bound. No continuum ontology is assumed primitive. From these assumptions, quantum representation and Born-rule compatibility emerge as consistent linear structure; bounded locality induces a causal cone and relativistic dispersion regimes; gauge covariance and plaquette holonomy define discrete curvature observables; renormalisation appears as channel-valued coarse-graining; and under explicit infrared (IR) regime conditions, smooth affine geometry can be constructed from Wilson loop statistics. Continuum quantum field theory and classical geometric language are treated as IR correspondence layers rather than fundamental ontology. The framework is internally finite, structurally disciplined and explicitly falsifiable. Introduction Modern theoretical physics relies heavily on continuum models whose mathematical structure often exceeds the domain of directly observable invariants. Divergences, renormalisation prescriptions and geometric reinterpretations frequently arise as artefacts of these representations rather than as primitive physical necessities. This programme begins from a different premise: assume only a finite discrete substrate with reversible local dynamics and bounded propagation. No continuum space, no background manifold and no infinite local degrees of freedom are taken as fundamental. Papers 1–8 develop this premise into a closed structural architecture;- Paper 1 establishes finite reversible closure and discrete gravitational bookkeeping; Paper 2 demonstrates compatibility with quantum linear representation and Born-rule probability assignment; Papers 3–4 show how bounded locality yields causal cones and emergent relativistic dispersion in infrared regimes; Papers 5–6 introduce exact gauge constraints and plaquette holonomy as discrete curvature observables; Paper 7 reframes renormalisation as channel-valued structural compression and this Paper 8 constructs an explicit holonomy-to-geometry bridge and provides falsification criteria. The central claim is not that continuum physics is wrong, but that it is not primitive. Quantum mechanics, relativistic kinematics, gauge curvature, renormalisation flow and geometric language all emerge as scale-dependent compressions of a finite reversible substrate.