Quantum Structure from Scalar Modulation: Deriving ¯h, Schrödinger’s Equation, and Photon Quantization in NUVO Theory Part 13 of the NUVO Theory Series

This paper presents a derivation of Planck’s constant ℏ and the quantization of angular momentum from classical electrodynamics and scalar modulation geometry, using only the empirical hydrogen binding energy and orbital mechanics. Within NUVO theory, spacetime is conformally modulated by a scalar field λ(r, v) that depends on velocity and gravitational potential. This modulation produces a fixed arc-length advance per orbit, leading to resonance closure after 1/α2 cycles and yielding the observed value of ℏ without invoking quantum postulates. A modified Schrodinger equation is proposed that incorporates λ, reducing to the standard form when λ = 1, and naturally replicating gravitational redshift–like effects. Rather than replacing quantum mechanics, NUVO embeds it within a deeper geometric substrate that recovers all known quantum behavior while offering a reinterpretation of its origin. This approach challenges conventional assumptions without altering empirical outcomes, positioning NUVO as a complementary framework grounded in classical geometry.