Concept Paper · Draft

Drift Theory:
A State-Space Model of Subjective Multiverse Experience

A formal framework for describing how lived experience moves through a map of nearby versions of reality, governed by continuity, emotion, and long-term commitments.

Core Idea

Let $\mathcal{X}$ be a manifold of experiential frames. A life is a continuous curve $\gamma(t): \mathbb{R} \to \mathcal{X}$, shaped by three forces:

  • Continuity – structural and physical plausibility ($\Phi$).
  • Emotion – intensity and direction of affect ($E(t), e(t)$, $\Psi$).
  • Commitment – long-term relational and ethical basins ($C$, $V$).

The drift SDE:

$dX_t = -\nabla \Phi(X_t)\,dt - \alpha e(t) \nabla \Psi(X_t;C)\,dt + \sqrt{2D(1+\kappa e(t))}\,dW_t.$

Structure of the Site

  1. Mathematical Model – configuration space, trajectories, potentials.
  2. Physics Comparison – QM, Many-Worlds, GR, and compatibility.
  3. Wormholes & Attractors – emotional curvature and relational basins.
  4. Discussion & Outlook – empirical, clinical, and philosophical directions.

Configuration Space

Frames $x = (q, m, r)$ encode coarse physical context $q$, memory $m$, and relational–affective ties $r$. The metric $d(x,y)$ measures how far two versions of experience are.

Drift & Wormholes

Under mild affect, $X(t)$ drifts locally. Under strong affect, curvature increases and the trajectory bends into new experiential regions: emotional wormholes.

Attractor Basins

Combined potentials $U(x;C) = \lambda_{phys}\Phi(x) + \lambda_{rel}V(x;C)$ form basins representing stable patterns: relationships, identities, and values revisited across versions.