Beyond Absolute Zero in a Continuum Universe: Entropic Modeling of Sub-Zero States Within the DUT Framework

We propose the Dead Universe Theory (DUT), an alternative cosmological framework that redefines cosmic thermal evolution without relying on metric expansion, focusing on entropic dynamics within a collapsing vacuum. Contrary to classical thermodynamics, which posits absolute zero (0 K) as the lower limit, DUT introduces an entropic formulation of gravitational collapse and vacuum degeneracy capable of producing effective temperatures far below 0 K—reaching values on the order of 10⁻⁵⁷ K. Through high-precision computational simulations, we identify several falsifiable predictions, including the natural emergence of sub-0 K thermodynamic states in degenerate vacua; the existence of DUT-Ice, an ultra-dense crystalline phase with frozen entropy and selective transparency; entropic freezing, whereby cooling rates slow despite decreasing background temperatures; a sharp degeneracy threshold near E ≈ 10⁻³⁰ J marking the onset of extreme entropy collapse; a modified Stefan–Boltzmann law incorporating entropic resistance, altering late-stage cosmic thermodynamics; potential observational signatures in fossil planets orbiting dead stellar cores; and extreme gravitational degeneracy effects leading to weak repulsive interactions in ultra-low-energy regimes. Our results establish a computable, falsifiable model for post-CMB thermodynamics, with profound implications for vacuum energy extraction, black hole entropy theory, and a radically new perspective on the universe’s thermal future.