Mass–Energy as Modal Strain A Coherence-Based Derivation of E = mc^2 and Planck's Constant h

This paper reinterprets the mass–energy relationship as an expression of modal strain in a coherence-based field geometry. Using the Unified Vibrational Field Theory (UVFT), we derive E = mc^2 as an integral over curvature, torsion, and tension in modal paths — reframing energy and mass as survival metrics within a topological substrate. Extending this framework, we show that Planck’s constant h arises as the minimum action required per coherence cycle to preserve modal stability. Together, these results offer a unifying geometric basis for two of physics’ most fundamental constants.