Substantes

Substantes are a theoretical construct used in speculative models of matter to describe the smallest constituents that participate in physical processes at the nanoscale. They are envisioned as more fundamental than molecules but distinct from classical atoms, defined by a fixed set of intrinsic properties—mass, charge, spin—and by an interaction potential that governs binding and transformation. In the Substantive Framework, a material is described as an arrangement of substantes in specific configurations, with bulk properties emerging from collective dynamics rather than from well-defined chemical bonds alone.

Substantes can be categorized by their interaction profiles, such as binding affinity, symmetry, and response to fields. Some models posit elementary substantes, which cannot be decomposed further, while others allow composite substantes formed from stable assemblies of simpler units. The framework allows a range of states, including bound, quasi-bound, and free substantes, whose ratios determine phase behavior, conductivity, and mechanical properties in a given model.

Historically, substantes have appeared mainly in thought experiments, speculative theories, and certain science fiction contexts, where they offer a way to discuss material properties without relying on traditional chemistry. In educational settings, they can illustrate how changing microscopic constituents affects macroscopic phenomena.

Related concepts include atoms, molecules, subatomic particles, and fields, as well as alternative models of matter that emphasize emergent properties. The term itself derives from the Latin substantia, meaning substance, and is used in some works as a generic label for basic constituents.