Glossary

A cosmological model where the universe transitioned from a contraction phase to expansion through a 'bounce' at finite density, avoiding the Big Bang singularity.

The amplitude of local primordial non-Gaussianity. P2 derives f_NL = -35/16 = -2.1875 for its stated matter-contraction assumptions. A future SPHEREx measurement may test that conditional prediction; it is not a current bounce detection.

The rotation of CMB polarization angle β as photons travel through space. Predicted β = 0.27° from ALP field evolution. Current measurement: 0.342° ± 0.094° (3.6σ).

A dark energy model with both quintessence (w > -1) and phantom (w < -1) fields, allowing the equation of state to cross w = -1. Treated theoretically in our program — Paper 1A's model-discrimination table is explicit that there are zero free-w0–wa samples in our 309,189-sample frozen posterior. External DESI DR2 (Adame et al.) reports 2.8–4.2σ for w-crossing.

Einstein-Cartan-Holst theory. Extends general relativity with torsion (antisymmetric part of the spacetime connection). A 14-constraint catalog closes the four enumerated minimal-ECH dark-energy routes at the channel level, under stated assumptions.

The antisymmetric part of the spacetime connection. In ECH theory, torsion couples to fermion spin and can prevent gravitational singularities by providing a repulsive force at extreme densities.

Markov Chain Monte Carlo. A statistical sampling method used to explore parameter spaces. Historic posterior records are research context, not P1B's publication role: P1B is namaster-proof research software.

Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer. NASA mission launching ~2028 that will measure f_NL to σ ≈ 0.7-1.0.

The uncertainty on the f_NL measurement. Current external constraints do not establish P2's conditional matter-contraction prediction. Earlier DESI anomaly-tracer improvement estimates are legacy/superseded pipeline work; the SPHEREx target is prospective.

Primordial Black Holes. Hypothetical black holes that could form from early-universe density fluctuations. Their connection to a bounce scenario remains theoretical and is not established by a survey detection.

North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves. A historic simplified slope comparison was compatible with a matter-bounce value under its stated model choices. It is legacy context, not a bounce detection or a current portfolio result.

A neural network trained to reconstruct its input. Objects it cannot reconstruct well may be flagged as candidates, not discoveries. BigBounce's historic exploratory pipeline produced archival candidate records; P3 is the integrated Supporting Data Release recovering 181 public DESI DR1 TARGETIDs from one frozen historical list, not a detection claim.

Parameter γ_BI = 0.2375 in loop quantum gravity that sets the minimum area quantum. Appears in the ECH action and controls the strength of parity-odd quantum corrections.

The parity-odd topological term in the gravitational action, proportional to 1/γ_BI. It produces no classical equations of motion but generates quantum effects including birefringence.

A historic native-retrain quality-gate concept for exploratory anomaly pipelines. These pipeline records are legacy/superseded methodology and do not contribute a current anomaly-catalog headline or evidence for a bounce.

Loop Quantum Cosmology. A quantization of cosmological spacetimes using loop quantum gravity methods, where the discrete structure of space at the Planck scale replaces the Big Bang singularity with a quantum bounce. The bounce is sourced by quantum geometric repulsion, distinct from the ECH/torsion mechanism.

A bounce cosmology scenario where the contracting phase is dominated by matter-like sources (w ≈ 0). P2 studies a conditional f_NL = -35/16 = -2.1875 prediction; observations have not established that a matter bounce occurred.