Capacity-Gated Projection Dynamics

We introduce a class of dynamical systems in which evolution is governed not by optimization, energy minimization, or utility functions, but by admissibility constraints imposed by finite coherence capacity. The system evolves according to one set of rules while representational strain remains below a capacity threshold. When this threshold is reached, continuation of the prior description becomes impossible and the system undergoes a discrete regime transition enforced by projection. We provide an explicit, runnable algorithm that implements this mechanism without global objectives or stochastic postulates. The resulting dynamics exhibit hesitation, channeling, boundary-layer behavior, and selection events that resemble decision-making or adaptive behavior, yet arise purely from structural constraints. We demonstrate that many standard dynamical frameworks cannot reproduce these phenomena without reintroducing equivalent admissibility gating. The model serves as a constructive existence proof for projection-limited dynamics and provides a testbed for studying selection, irreversibility, and regime change in physical, biological, and artificial systems.