This paper develops a physics-only reinterpretation of the electron as a stable equilibrium-coupling mode of the electromagnetic field rather than a constituent particle. Unlike protons and neutrons, which possess internal composite structure, the electron emerges as the minimal-energy configuration required to restore polarity, boundary, and geometric constraints in the presence of a protonic charge defect. This interpretation is compatible with quantum electrodynamics (QED) 1, high-energy scattering data 2, atomic spectra 3, and chemical bonding 4. A mathematical formulation is provided using classical field theory and operator-level structure from QED. Predictions and falsifiability criteria are included.
James Reeves (2026) studied this question.