Entropy Generation as Channel Friction and Topological Strain on the Q3 Substrate A Parameter-Free QEC Mechanism for the Second Law, Low-Entropy Initial Condition, Dark-Energy Thawing, and Dark-Matter Generation

We show that the same Z-stabilizer syndromes that generate bare constituent masses and enforce topological outer-code protection on the Q3 lattice simultaneously produce ther- modynamic entropy via two complementary costs: (i) dynamic channel friction M(c) = exp(ϕF(c)/2) with ϕ = (√5−1)/2, and (ii) static topological strain E ∝F2/2 (Frank’s Rule). In the early universe the QEC substrate has not yet activated, so syndrome accu- mulation is zero →S(0) = 0 automatically (resolving the Past Hypothesis). As the lattice grows, full constraint enforcement (including the matter-anchored R4) drives dark-energy evolution from w =−1 to w0 =−0.75, while residual un-enforced sectors condense as cold dark matter. All results follow from the identical frustration count F= (i,j)∈E(Q3 )(ci ⊕cj ) with zero free parameters. v2.0 (2026-06-12): an in-PDF dated status/erratum note has been added reflecting the June 2026 canon audit (DRIFT/ANCHOR ledger); see the paper's status note for the specific corrections, supersessions, or upgrades. 2026-06-20 legacy canon revision: This is a canon-reconciled legacy version. Thermodynamic claims now governed by R13/R14 record-action discipline The paper retains its historical derivation trail but carries a 2026-06-20 canon revision note identifying current status and superseded claims. 2026-06-21 canon refresh: This version incorporates the 2026-06-21 ANCHOR/DRIFT/PTMS canon refresh and rebuilt local PDF.