This work develops a structural source-datum framework for the matter–antimatter asymmetry problem. Rather than beginning with mechanisms for generating a baryon excess, it asks a prior question: what is the mathematical object whose generation, washout, survival, and observational recognition are being asserted? The paper defines a charge–survivor datum consisting of a source space of histories or branches, a source identity relation, a charge-parity comparison, charge coordinates, production and washout channels, abundance normalization, and an observable response law. Within this framework, four distinct asymmetry levels are separated: source asymmetry, produced asymmetry, survived asymmetry, and observed asymmetry. These levels coincide only when specific descent, channel, recognition, and normalization conditions are satisfied. The main results establish structural criteria for asymmetry recognition. A charge asymmetry is a physical invariant of the specified datum exactly when it descends through the source identity relation. In finite-dimensional form, the combined production–washout–response chain determines a survivor quotient that captures the distinctions remaining visible after all declared channels act. A terminal observable recognizes a source-level asymmetry exactly when the asymmetry factors through this survivor structure. The paper also proves a CP-symmetric closure result: when a selected branch is CP-admissible, the asymmetry is CP-odd, and the observable law is complete for that asymmetry, the descended asymmetry must vanish. The contribution is a theorem-grade source-datum framework for baryogenesis and matter–antimatter asymmetry claims. Within this framework, a nonzero observed asymmetry requires a nonzero CP-odd charge distinction that survives production, washout, and response compression and is recognized by the specified observable law. Residual or missing asymmetry is thereby classified as failed descent, CP-symmetric closure, charge-opening failure, washout erasure, response invisibility, normalization mismatch, branch misidentification, or source-space extension. As a companion to Baryogenesis as Completion-Locked Asymmetry Survival: Survivor Quotients and Conditional Baryogenesis Closure, this work identifies and certifies the charge–survivor datum on which the companion theorem acts. The two papers form a source-datum/theorem pair. The present paper defines the mathematical object underlying matter–antimatter asymmetry claims, establishes its descent, survivor, and recognition structures, and develops the corresponding verification framework. The companion paper proves the closure consequences for that datum under explicit hypotheses, including CP-erasure criteria, survivor-quotient factorization, conditional baryogenesis closure, and completion-locked non-retuning. Together the two papers place matter–antimatter asymmetry and baryogenesis claims on explicit source data, production–washout–response structure, asymmetry survival, observable recognition, branch certification, and common-source closure conditions. License note: Distributed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Salimah H. Meghani (Mon,) studied this question.