Halo-Induced Lattice Shell Model of Black Hole Horizons

The entropy–area relation of black holes implies that the fundamental degrees of freedom are associated with the horizon rather than the bulk, necessitating an effective discrete description of the boundary. In this work, a lattice shell model of the black hole horizon is developed as a physically motivated framework consistent with thermodynamic constraints, mechanical stability, and interaction requirements. A stress-based instability mechanism - arising from accretion, external pressure, and information saturation - is introduced to demonstrate that a continuous horizon becomes unstable near capacity limits. Using a variational energy formulation, it is shown that a lattice-like structure emerges as the energetically preferred configuration, subject to topological constraints that require a geodesic lattice with intrinsic defects. Within this framework, localized aperture-like features arise naturally as adaptive structures that relieve stress and redistribute information without violating the entropy bound. Conditions for their stability are derived, and their role as boundary-level interaction interfaces is examined. A key scaling relation, governing structural viability, is obtained, indicating that stability and interaction capacity increase rapidly with black hole mass. The model is further integrated with a domain interaction framework, where the horizon acts as a distributed junction surface enabling statistical coupling between domains. The proposed framework remains consistent with general relativity at macroscopic scales and does not invoke exotic matter or spacetime tunneling. It yields qualitative predictions, including mass-dependent structural effects, boundary-induced variability, and asymmetric interaction signatures, together with clear criteria for falsifiability. As an effective theory, the lattice shell model provides a unified and physically grounded approach to horizon microstructure and its potential role in fundamental interactions.