Thermodynamic Resolution of the Hubble Tension: The Dead Universe Theory (DUT) as a Cosmological Model Rooted in Irreversible Entropy

The Dead Universe Theory (DUT) proposes that the observable universe is not an isolated, ever-expanding system emerging from a primordial singularity, but a thermodynamically decaying domain embedded within the collapsed geometry of a prior cosmological phase. In this framework, the visible cosmos constitutes a localized photonic anomaly—a transient luminous fluctuation—formed inside a large-scale structural black hole generated by the exhaustion of a former universe. Rather than ending in a Big Rip, Big Freeze, or Big Crunch, DUT predicts an asymmetric thermodynamic retraction in which usable energy is progressively depleted, driving the cosmos toward structural infertility and thermodynamic death on a timescale of order 102 Gyr (≈ 166 billion years). Beyond this horizon, matter persists only in fossilized configurations such as planets, stellar remnants, black holes, and extinguished galaxies, forming a “dead universe”. This thesis develops the mathematical, thermodynamic, and computational foundations of DUT and tests its consequences against current observational data. The work combines (i) entropic retraction equations with time-dependent curvature and entropy-derived cosmological terms, (ii) the Cosmic Fossil Record Method for dating the exhaustion of cosmic energy, and (iii) numerical simulations of galactic evolution under finite-energy and high-entropy constraints. These simulations reproduce quenching histories, fossil signatures, and an entropic horizon consistent with a structurally dying universe. Remarkably, DUT-based simulations anticipated several deep-field results from the James Webb Space Telescope, including compact galaxies at z > 13 and a population of Small Red Dots (SRDs) at z ≈ 15–20. The theory yields falsifiable predictions, such as a measurable excess of compact high-redshift systems, a mildly negative curvature parameter (Ωₖ ≈ −0.07 ± 0.02), and a declining structural natality of galaxies with cosmic time. By providing reproducible codes, explicit equations, and clear observational tests, DUT is presented as a coherent and testable alternative to ΛCDM for modeling cosmic chronology, entropy dynamics, and large-scale gravitational architecture.