We reformulate alpha decay as a two-stage algorithmic process on a discrete Z3 ⊗ Q3 topological lattice. Standard continuous wave mechanics models the propagation of an alpha particle through a Coulomb barrier (Gamow tunnelling) but relies on phenomenological fits for the preformation prob- ability and assault frequency (the Geiger-Nuttall intercept). In this framework, the pre-tunnelling rate is derived as a calculable geometric edge-cut problem. Feshbach projection of the lattice walk operator yields a detachment rate of 1/36 per severed macroscopic gauge bridge. Assuming rapid many-body decoherence renders this a Markov process, the detachment rate scales as 36−k , where k is the integer number of boundary bridges. For a 2 × 2 cluster detaching via a minimal topological neck (k = 2), the framework predicts a pre-tunnelling emission rate of 1.14 × 1020 s−1, recovering empirical preformation phenomenology without fitted parameters. Post-detachment, the evanescent spatial propagation takes the form of a discrete tight-binding Riemann sum, which converges to the standard macroscopic WKB phase integral, explicitly recovering the 2πα√2mαc2 Gamow slope. Evaluating this unified equation end-to-end for 238U and 212Po yields effective barrier radii perfectly consistent with standard diffuse nuclear surfaces. 2026-06-20 legacy canon revision: This is a canon-reconciled legacy version. Nuclear/second-scale sector remains a current open wall 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retains its historical derivation trail but carries a 2026-06-20 canon revision note identifying current status and superseded claims. 2026-06-21 canon refresh: This version incorporates the 2026-06-21 ANCHOR/DRIFT/PTMS canon refresh and rebuilt local PDF.
David Elliman (Sun,) studied this question.