diff 999db1f..b34550f uniform_marked_polygon_bridge_v2.txt
diff --git a/uniform_marked_polygon_bridge_v2.txt b/uniform_marked_polygon_bridge_v2.txt
index dbf2757..27b9b99 100644
--- a/uniform_marked_polygon_bridge_v2.txt
+++ b/uniform_marked_polygon_bridge_v2.txt
@@ -3,53 +3,53 @@
 
 % Every substantive argument is present; routine mechanical verifications are compressed.
 % ============================================================
-\documentclass[11pt]{article}
-\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
-\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
-\usepackage{lmodern,amsmath,amssymb,amsthm,mathtools,mathrsfs}
-\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}
+
+
+
+
+
 \usepackage[microtype]
-\usepackage{booktabs}
-\usepackage[colorlinks=true,linkcolor=blue!50!black,citecolor=blue!50!black,urlcolor=blue!50!black]{hyperref}
-\usepackage{bookmark}
+
+
+
 \allowdisplaybreaks[2]
-\numberwithin{equation}{section}
-\newtheorem{theorem}{Theorem}[section]
-\newtheorem{proposition}[theorem]{Proposition}
-\newtheorem{lemma}[theorem]{Lemma}
-\newtheorem{corollary}[theorem]{Corollary}
-\newtheorem*{auxproposition}{Proposition}
-\theoremstyle{definition}
-\newtheorem{definition}[theorem]{Definition}
-\theoremstyle{remark}
-\newtheorem{remark}[theorem]{Remark}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\Pf}{Pf}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\Tr}{Tr}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\Res}{Res}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\diam}{diam}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\dist}{dist}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\supp}{supp}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\rank}{rank}
-\DeclareMathOperator{\Span}{span}
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
 % (preamble marker)
-\begin{document}
+
 
 % (abstract-heading removed)
 We prove quantitative estimates for the critical self-avoiding
 walk on the honeycomb lattice, seen through three families of
-geometric constraints. \emph{First}, a bridge across a strip of
+geometric constraints. First, a bridge across a strip of
 height $h$ (a self-avoiding path from a fixed port on the bottom
 cut to any port on the top cut) has total critical mass comparable
 to $h^{-1/4}$. The first moment of its length is at most
 $Ch^{13/12}$, and a positive fraction of the bridge mass is carried
 by paths of length at least $ch^{4/3}$. The bridge diameter tail is
 $C(1+x)^{-1/4}$.
-\emph{Second}, on a cylinder of period $N$, the total critical mass
+Second, on a cylinder of period $N$, the total critical mass
 of a simple polygon passing through two specified honeycomb links
 at even axial displacement $d$ is at most $CN^{-4/3}(N/d)^{15/8}$,
 uniformly in the axis direction, in the total separation $d$ and
 in the ratio $N/d$.
-\emph{Third}, the positive partition function of systems of
+Third, the positive partition function of systems of
 mutually disjoint polygons enclosing a fixed triangular lattice
 vertex in a pure-sided hexagon of inradius $R$ is comparable to
 $R^{1/12}$.
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ on the honeycomb lattice follow. They concern bridges of a strip,
 pairs of marked edges on a cylinder, and nesting of disjoint
 polygons about a marked vertex.
 
-\paragraph{The honeycomb lattice, described dually.} Take the
+The honeycomb lattice, described dually.:  Take the
 usual triangular lattice of points in the plane, which cuts the
 plane into equilateral triangles. Colour the triangles black and
 white according to the parity of a vertex of the triangular
@@ -78,27 +78,27 @@ edge. The resulting graph -- vertices = triangle centres, edges =
 (hexagonal) lattice. Every edge joins a black centre to a white
 centre.
 
-A \emph{self-avoiding path} $\gamma$ is a finite sequence of
-distinct triangle centres $v_0,\dots,v_n$ with $v_j$ adjacent
-to $v_{j+1}$. Its \emph{length} is $\ell(\gamma)=n+1$, the
-number of visited centres. Its \emph{weight} is
+A self-avoiding path $\gamma$ is a finite sequence of
+distinct triangle centres $v_0,...,v_n$ with $v_j$ adjacent
+to $v_{j+1}$. Its length is $\ell(\gamma)=n+1$, the
+number of visited centres. Its weight is
 \[
 w(\gamma) = \kappa^{\ell(\gamma)},\qquad
-\kappa = (2\cos(\pi/8))^{-1} = 1/\sqrt{2+\sqrt 2}.
+\kappa = (2\cos(\pi/8))^{-1} = 1/√(2+\sqrt 2).
 \]
-The reciprocal $\kappa^{-1}=\sqrt{2+\sqrt2}$ is the
-\emph{connective constant} of the honeycomb lattice; its
+The reciprocal $\kappa^{-1}=√(2+\sqrt2)$ is the
+connective constant of the honeycomb lattice; its
 identification is a theorem of Duminil-Copin and Smirnov,
-\emph{Ann.\ Math.}~2012, proved by an exact local observable. Fix
+Ann.\ Math.~2012, proved by an exact local observable. Fix
 $\kappa$. Summing $\kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}$ over paths with prescribed
-\emph{geometric constraints} -- over all bridges of a strip, over
+geometric constraints -- over all bridges of a strip, over
 all polygons through two marks -- gives the three central sums.
 
-\paragraph{The three theorems in plain words.}
+The three theorems in plain words.: 
 
-\emph{Theorem \ref{thm:finite-bridges} (bridges).} Take a strip
+Theorem thm:finite-bridges (bridges). Take a strip
 of height $h$ between two horizontal lattice cuts, and fix one
-boundary port on the bottom cut. A \emph{bridge} is a
+boundary port on the bottom cut. A bridge is a
 self-avoiding path from that port to any port on the top cut,
 staying strictly between the cuts. Sum $\kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}$
 over all bridges. Then the sum $B_h$ is comparable to
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ bridges of length at least $ch^{4/3}$. In words: crossing a
 long strip is expensive but geometrical, so bridges are long (of
 order $h^{4/3}$) and rare (of order $h^{-1/4}$).
 
-\emph{Theorem \ref{thm:two-marks} (two marked edges).} Put two
+Theorem thm:two-marks (two marked edges). Put two
 specified honeycomb links on a cylinder of period $N$, with a
 particular even axial separation $d$ between them. The sum over
 simple polygons (closed self-avoiding curves on the cylinder) that
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ are (relatively), the more is gained. The bound is uniform in the
 direction, so it is a genuine two-point correlation bound, not a
 ``homogeneous'' one.
 
-\emph{Theorem \ref{thm:nesting} (positive nesting).} Around a
+Theorem thm:nesting (positive nesting). Around a
 triangular lattice vertex $y$ of a pure-sided hexagon of inradius
 $R$, sum over systems of mutually disjoint polygons in that hexagon
 that all enclose $y$, each with factor $2\kappa^{\ell}$. Then the
@@ -129,34 +129,34 @@ $R^{1/12}$, again with bounded constants. This ``positive''
 comparison is the input needed to pass between positively weighted
 path sums and positively weighted polygon sums.
 
-\paragraph{Notation.} Here $\ell(\gamma)$ is length in triangle
+Notation.:  Here $\ell(\gamma)$ is length in triangle
 centres; for a simple polygon, length is equivalently the number of
-edges. A \emph{boundary port} of a tiled domain is a midpoint of a
+edges. A boundary port of a tiled domain is a midpoint of a
 boundary edge; paths enter and exit normally at ports. The auxiliary
 constants $L=\pi/8$, $b=3L$, $C=2-\sqrt2=4\cos^2 b$ are eigenvalues
 of the row transfer matrix. For a triangular lattice vertex $y$ and
 $R\in d_0\mathbb Z_{>0}$ with $d_0=\sqrt3/2$, $H(y;R)$ is the
 regular pure-sided hexagon of inradius $R$ centred at $y$.
 
-\paragraph{Introduction.}\label{sec:introduction}
+Introduction.: 
 
-\paragraph{The honeycomb lattice and its critical weight.}\label{sec:intro-honeycomb}
+The honeycomb lattice and its critical weight.: 
 
 Every closed walk of $\mathbb H$ drawn without self-intersection
-encloses a union of triangles. A \emph{simple polygon}
+encloses a union of triangles. A simple polygon
 $L\subset\mathbb H$ is a simple closed curve of the honeycomb
 graph; it may be unbounded on a cylinder
-(Section~\ref{sec:intro-cylinder}), in which case it is
-\emph{essential}, or bounded, in which case it is
-\emph{contractible}. Polygons are unoriented and \emph{unrooted}
+(Section~sec:intro-cylinder), in which case it is
+essential, or bounded, in which case it is
+contractible. Polygons are unoriented and unrooted
 unless a root is specified.
 
 The critical weight of the self-avoiding walk is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:kappa}
-\kappa = \left(2\cos\frac\pi8\right)^{-1} = 1/\sqrt{2+\sqrt 2}.
-\end{equation}
+
+\kappa = (2\cos\frac\pi8)^{-1} = 1/√(2+\sqrt 2).
+
 Duminil-Copin and Smirnov proved that
-$\kappa^{-1}=\sqrt{2+\sqrt2}$ is the connective constant of the
+$\kappa^{-1}=√(2+\sqrt2)$ is the connective constant of the
 honeycomb lattice. Fix $\kappa$ throughout. A bridge contributes
 the $\kappa$-mass over all self-avoiding paths fitting the
 constraint, a marked-polygon system contributes the $\kappa$-mass
@@ -164,58 +164,58 @@ over all simple polygons through the marks, and a nesting system
 contributes the weighted $\kappa$-mass over all mutually
 disjoint sets of enclosing polygons.
 
-\paragraph{Paths, bridges, polygons.}\label{sec:intro-objects}
+Paths, bridges, polygons.: 
 
 Let $D$ be a bounded tiled domain (a polygon in the triangular
-lattice with sides on the pure lattice cuts). A \emph{port} of
+lattice with sides on the pure lattice cuts). A port of
 $D$ is the midpoint of a boundary edge; a self-avoiding path in
 $D$ begins and ends at ports, entering and exiting normally. Its
 weight is $\kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}$, with $\ell$ the number of
 triangle centres visited -- equivalently the number of honeycomb
 edges plus $1$, for a path with nonempty interior.
 
-A \emph{pure lattice cut} is a line parallel to one of the three
-edge directions of the triangular tiling. A \emph{pure-sided}
+A pure lattice cut is a line parallel to one of the three
+edge directions of the triangular tiling. A pure-sided
 domain is one whose sides lie on pure lattice cuts. For an
 integer $h\ge1$, let $\mathcal B_h$ be the set of bridges of
 $\mathbb H$: paths from a fixed bottom port to any port on the
 opposite horizontal cut at Euclidean distance $h d_0$ (where
 $d_0=\sqrt3/2$ is the row spacing of the triangular lattice),
 staying strictly between the cuts. Put
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Bh-def}
+
 B_h = \sum_{\gamma\in\mathcal B_h} \kappa^{\ell(\gamma)},\qquad
 B_h(E) = \sum_{\gamma\in\mathcal B_h} \mathbf 1_E(\gamma)\kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}.
-\end{equation}
+
 By lattice symmetry $B_h$ does not depend on the chosen bottom
 port or on the choice of pure lattice orientation. Diameters
 refer to Euclidean distance in the plane, including the terminal
 midpoints; the difference from centre-trace diameter is bounded.
 
-\paragraph{The three main theorems.}
+The three main theorems.: 
 
-\begin{theorem}[Finite bridge estimates]\label{thm:finite-bridges}
+[Finite bridge estimates]
 There exist constants $c,C>0$ such that for every sufficiently
 large integer $h$,
-\begin{align}
-c h^{-1/4} &\le B_h\,\le\, C h^{-1/4},\label{eq:bridge-mass}\\
+
+c h^{-1/4} &\le B_h\,\le\, C h^{-1/4},\\
 \sum_{\gamma\in\mathcal B_h} \ell(\gamma)\kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}
-&\le C h^{13/12},\label{eq:bridge-first-moment}\\
-B_h\{\ell\ge c h^{4/3}\} &\ge c h^{-1/4}.\label{eq:bridge-long-fraction}
-\end{align}
+&\le C h^{13/12},\\
+B_h\{\ell\ge c h^{4/3}\} &\ge c h^{-1/4}.
+
 Moreover for every $h\ge1$ and $x\ge0$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:bridge-diameter}
+
 B_h\{\diam\gamma>x\} \le C(1+x)^{-1/4}.
-\end{equation}
-\end{theorem}
 
-Dividing \eqref{eq:bridge-first-moment} by \eqref{eq:bridge-mass}
+
+
+Dividing (eq:bridge-first-moment) by (eq:bridge-mass)
 gives a conditional mean at most $Ch^{4/3}$. The positive mass
-in \eqref{eq:bridge-long-fraction} is uniform in height and
+in (eq:bridge-long-fraction) is uniform in height and
 does not average over heights or prescribe the terminal port.
 
 The second theorem uses two points, not one.
 
-\begin{theorem}[Two axial marks]\label{thm:two-marks}\label{u:two-edge-theorem}
+[Two axial marks]
 Let $e_1,e_2$ be unit lattice vectors at angle $60^\circ$. Fix
 $P_1,P_2\in\mathbb Z_{>0}$, $P=P_1e_1+P_2e_2$, $d=P_1+P_2$. Let
 $E\subset \mathbb H$ be a honeycomb link crossing a tiling edge
@@ -223,33 +223,33 @@ in either axial direction, and let $E+P$ be its translate by
 $P$. Suppose $d$ is even. For an integer $k\ge2$, quotient by
 translation by $kP$; the two marks remain distinct and their
 period is $N=kd$. Then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:marked-uniform}
+
 \sum_{\gamma\ni E,\,E+P} \kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}
 \le C N^{-4/3}(N/d)^{15/8},
-\end{equation}
+
 where the sum is over simple polygons in the quotient cylinder
 through both marked links, with $\ell$ counting every visited
 centre (so edges of the cylinder are counted once per lift).
 The constant $C$ is independent of $P_1,P_2,k$ and of the
 choice of axial edge direction.
-\end{theorem}
 
-\begin{theorem}[Nesting and free boundary length]\label{thm:nesting}
+
+[Nesting and free boundary length]
 For a triangular lattice vertex $y$ and $R\in d_0\mathbb Z_{>0}$
 with $R\ge1$, let $H(y;R)$ be the pure-sided regular hexagon of
 Euclidean inradius $R$ centred at $y$; the lattice restriction on
 $R$ and the centre is verified in
-Section~\ref{sec:hexagon-completion}. For a finite tiled domain
+Section~sec:hexagon-completion. For a finite tiled domain
 $D$ and a vertex $y$, put
 \[
-Z_D(y) = \sum_{\gamma_1,\dots,\gamma_j \text{ disjoint in } D}
+Z_D(y) = \sum_{\gamma_1,...,\gamma_j  disjoint in  D}
 2^j\,\kappa^{\sum \ell(\gamma_i)},
 \]
-the sum over systems $(\gamma_1,\dots,\gamma_j)$ of mutually
+the sum over systems $(\gamma_1,...,\gamma_j)$ of mutually
 disjoint simple polygons, each enclosing $y$, and $j\ge0$ (so
 the empty system has weight 1). Then $Z_{H(y;R)}(y)$ is
 comparable to $R^{1/12}$ uniformly in $y$ and $R$. More
-generally, for any fixed $0<a\le b<\infty$ and any finite
+generally, for any fixed $0<a\le b<∞$ and any finite
 tiled domain $D$ with $B(y,aR)\subset D\subset B(y,bR)$,
 $Z_D(y)$ is comparable to $R^{1/12}$, uniformly over
 translations and pure-axis roundings of $D$. Finally, in
@@ -257,23 +257,23 @@ $H(y;R)$ with paths between ordered free boundary ports of
 diameter at least $R/2$: the critical mass is comparable to
 $R^{3/4}$, and the mean number of visited centres is comparable
 to $R^{4/3}$.
-\end{theorem}
 
-\paragraph{Context and history.}
+
+Context and history.: 
 
 The honeycomb self-avoiding walk has a long history, and three
-results sit directly behind Theorem~\ref{thm:finite-bridges}.
-Nienhuis~\cite{Nienhuis1982} predicted the critical point and
+results sit directly behind Theorem~thm:finite-bridges.
+Nienhuis~[cite] predicted the critical point and
 critical exponents from the dilute $O(n)$ model. Duminil-Copin
-and Smirnov~\cite{DuminilCopinSmirnov2012} proved the exact
+and Smirnov~[cite] proved the exact
 connective constant. Beaton, Bousquet-M\'elou, de Gier,
-Duminil-Copin and Guttmann~\cite{BeatonEtAl2014} proved the
-strip-crossing mass goes to zero as $h\to\infty$. Glazman and
-Manolescu~\cite{GlazmanManolescu2017} obtained a logarithmic
+Duminil-Copin and Guttmann~[cite] proved the
+strip-crossing mass goes to zero as $h\to∞$. Glazman and
+Manolescu~[cite] obtained a logarithmic
 bound along a subsequence and identified the predicted
-$h^{-1/4}$ decay; Krachun and Panagiotis~\cite{KrachunPanagiotis2026}
+$h^{-1/4}$ decay; Krachun and Panagiotis~[cite]
 proved a polynomial upper bound with exponent $10^{-10}$.
-Theorem~\ref{thm:finite-bridges} gives the predicted decay with
+Theorem~thm:finite-bridges gives the predicted decay with
 fixed constants, together with first-moment and positive-mass
 length estimates on the same finite bridge measure.
 
@@ -281,181 +281,181 @@ The two-mark bound is new: it is a uniform two-point correlation
 estimate on a cylinder, with explicit dependence on the ratio
 $N/d$, independent of the choice of axis.
 \`A~propos the analytic structure, the transfer matrix used in
-Section~\ref{c6:strip-transfer} is a specialization of the
+Section~c6:strip-transfer is a specialization of the
 integrable dilute-loop algebra of Grimm and
-Pearce~\cite{GrimmPearce1993}, and the polynomial-exchange
+Pearce~[cite], and the polynomial-exchange
 formalism extends the dense-$O(1)$ construction of Di Francesco
-and Zinn-Justin~\cite{DiFrancescoZinnJustin2005} and the dilute
+and Zinn-Justin~[cite] and the dilute
 open-boundary work of Garbali and
-Nienhuis~\cite{GarbaliNienhuis2017Ground,GarbaliNienhuis2017Sum}
+Nienhuis~[cite]
 to periodic boundary conditions.
 
 For the gas estimate, the level-one boson construction of
 Frenkel--Kac and
-Segal~\cite{FrenkelKac1980,Segal1981,Frenkel1985} supplies the
+Segal~[cite] supplies the
 current-expansion framework; the thermal trace estimates and
 contour deformations that enter here are done explicitly in
-Section~\ref{c6:gas}. Precedents for the interior-multiplicity
+Section~c6:gas. Precedents for the interior-multiplicity
 argument and the $O(n=1)$ bulk behaviour include the work of
-Zhou and Batchelor~\cite{ZhouBatchelor1997}.
+Zhou and Batchelor~[cite].
 
 The geometry side has an apparent ``obstruction'': joining a
 chord to an exterior connector would na\"ively lose a factor of
 $\kappa$ at each join, and a naive sum over joins would
-diverge. The solution adopted in Section~\ref{sec:sewing} is to
-vary the intermediate cuts and use a \emph{second-moment}
+diverge. The solution adopted in Section~sec:sewing is to
+vary the intermediate cuts and use a second-moment
 estimate; the difference between two cut choices produces
 additional bridges whose averaged cost recovers the apparent
 losses, and there is a corner gain that makes the sum over
 endpoint bins finite. This is a strategy particular to the
 honeycomb case and it is what makes the marked-polygon estimate
-\eqref{eq:marked-uniform} into a second-moment input for the
+(eq:marked-uniform) into a second-moment input for the
 bridge first moment.
 
-\paragraph{Proof route.}
+Proof route.: 
 
-Sections~\ref{c6:strip-transfer} and~\ref{c6:strip-asymptotics}
+Sections~c6:strip-transfer and~c6:strip-asymptotics
 prove the bridge mass on its own: first a finite double-row
 formula, then a positive interpolation estimate. Then
-Section~\ref{c6:periodic-polynomial} constructs the periodic
+Section~c6:periodic-polynomial constructs the periodic
 vacuum vectors representing the empty-connectivity eigenvalue
-and identifies their ``physical'' polygon pairing. Section~\ref{c6:gas}
+and identifies their ``physical'' polygon pairing. Section~c6:gas
 turns the finite polynomial pairing into a particle expansion,
 estimates that expansion, and bounds the answer.
-Section~\ref{c6:subheading-09} pins the physical normalization at
+Section~c6:subheading-09 pins the physical normalization at
 two parameters (which happens to be exactly accessible via a
 determinant), then propagates it to the physical parameter by
 subharmonicity.
 
-Section~\ref{c6:geometry} proves the boundary-crossing and
+Section~c6:geometry proves the boundary-crossing and
 cylinder-barrier estimates (used to control vertical and
 horizontal extent) and turns positive polygon nesting into a
-free-boundary length sum. Section~\ref{sec:uniform-nesting}
+free-boundary length sum. Section~sec:uniform-nesting
 sharpens that comparison from ``up to a polynomial'' to ``up to
-a bounded constant''. Section~\ref{c6:subheading-14} handles the
-\emph{magnetic insertions}: fixed spin slots at each mark, which
+a bounded constant''. Section~c6:subheading-14 handles the
+magnetic insertions: fixed spin slots at each mark, which
 realise the two-edge observable as a contraction of two transfer
-matrix columns. Section~\ref{sec:sewing} finally uses the
+matrix columns. Section~sec:sewing finally uses the
 second-moment input from the marked estimate to control the
-length moment and complete Theorem~\ref{thm:finite-bridges}.
+length moment and complete Theorem~thm:finite-bridges.
 
 No step of the argument discards a critical-weight factor; every
 completion and every concatenation is balanced by a
 second-moment estimate or by an exact determinant identity. Every
 result stated here is proved in full below.
 % ============================================================
-\paragraph{A finite formula for strip crossing mass.}
-\label{c6:strip-transfer}
+A finite formula for strip crossing mass.: 
+
 % ============================================================
 
-\textbf{Goal of this section.} We produce a scalar function $p(u)$,
+Goal of this section. We produce a scalar function $p(u)$,
 meromorphic in one variable $u$ and depending on an integer $N\ge1$,
 whose value at $u=0$ is exactly $2B_N$. The function $p$ has enough
 analytic structure that it is determined by finitely many linear
-conditions, which Section~\ref{c6:strip-asymptotics} will estimate
+conditions, which Section~c6:strip-asymptotics will estimate
 directly.
 
 The underlying object is a commuting family $T(t)$ of matrices on
-$N$-site spin space, called the \emph{double-row transfer matrix}. At
+$N$-site spin space, called the double-row transfer matrix. At
 a specific value $t=\gamma$ of the spectral parameter, $T(\gamma)$
-has a rank-one projection as $m\to\infty$ limit for its $m$-th power;
+has a rank-one projection as $m\to∞$ limit for its $m$-th power;
 this limit is the physical bridge measure of the height-$2m$
 rectangle. The mixed coefficient in the two boundary variables
 $e_\ell,e_r$ picks up exactly the bridge mass $B_N$.
 
-\paragraph{Constants and setup.}
-\label{sec:strip-constants}
+Constants and setup.: 
+
 
 Throughout fix
 \[
-L=\frac{\pi}{8},\quad S=\sin(2L)=\frac 1{\sqrt2},\quad b=3L,\quad
-\gamma=\frac b2,\quad \kappa=(2\cos L)^{-1}=1/\sqrt{2+\sqrt2}.
+L=(\pi)/(8),\quad S=\sin(2L)=\frac 1{\sqrt2},\quad b=3L,\quad
+\gamma=\frac b2,\quad \kappa=(2\cos L)^{-1}=1/√(2+\sqrt2).
 \]
 We write $t_j=\sin(u+jL)$ when the argument $u$ is clear from context.
 Two elementary sine identities are used repeatedly:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:strip-trig}
+
 t_{j-1}+t_{j+1} = 2\cos L\, t_j = t_j/\kappa,\qquad
 t_{j-2}t_{j+2} = t_j^2 - S^2,
-\end{equation}
+
 both direct consequences of $\sin(a+b)+\sin(a-b)=2\sin a\cos b$ and
 $\sin(a+b)\sin(a-b)=\sin^2 a-\sin^2 b$ together with $\sin(2L)=1/\sqrt2$.
 Also $\sin(t+\pi)=-\sin t$, so any expression $\sin(u+jL)$ is
 periodic or antiperiodic mod $\pi$. At $u=2L$: $\sin(2L+2L)=\cos(0)=1$,
 and $\sin(4L-2L)=\sin(2L)=1/\sqrt2$.
 
-\paragraph{The local $R$-matrix.}
-\label{sec:strip-R}
+The local $R$-matrix.: 
 
-Let $V=\mathbb C^3$ have basis $\{|+\rangle,|0\rangle,|-\rangle\}$,
+
+Let $V=\mathbb C^3$ have basis $\{|+>,|0>,|->\}$,
 interpreted as spins $+1,0,-1$. Set $s = e^{2iL} = e^{i\pi/4}$ so
 $s^4=-1$ and $s^2+s^{-2}=0$. Put $Q(u)=\sin(2L+u)\sin(b+u)$ and
 define
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:R-coeffs}
-\begin{aligned}
-a(u)&=\frac{S\sin(b-u)}{Q(u)},&
-h(u)&=\frac{S\sin u}{Q(u)},&
-v(u)&=\frac{\sin(b-u)\sin u}{Q(u)},\\
-c(u)&=\frac{\sin(b-u)\sin(2L-u)}{Q(u)},&
-d(u)&=\frac{\sin u \sin(u-L)}{Q(u)}.
-\end{aligned}
-\end{equation}
-Then $R(u)\in\mathrm{End}(V\otimes V)$ is defined by
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:R-matrix}
-\begin{aligned}
+
+
+a(u)&=(S\sin(b-u))/(Q(u)),&
+h(u)&=(S\sin u)/(Q(u)),&
+v(u)&=(\sin(b-u)\sin u)/(Q(u)),\\
+c(u)&=(\sin(b-u)\sin(2L-u))/(Q(u)),&
+d(u)&=(\sin u \sin(u-L))/(Q(u)).
+
+
+Then $R(u)\inEnd(V ⊗  V)$ is defined by
+
+
 &R(++,++)=R(--,--)=c(u),\\
 &R(+0,+0)=R(0+,0+)=R(-0,-0)=R(0-,0-)=v(u),\\
 &R(+0,0+)=R(0+,+0)=R(-0,0-)=R(0-,-0)=a(u),\\
-&\begin{pmatrix}
+&
 R(+-,+-)&R(+-,00)&R(+-, -+)\\
 R(00,+-)&R(00,00)&R(00,-+)\\
 R(-+,+-)&R(-+,00)&R(-+,-+)
-\end{pmatrix}
-=\begin{pmatrix}
+
+=
 d(u)&h(u)/s&c(u)+d(u)/s^2\\
 s\,h(u)&1&h(u)/s\\
 c(u)+d(u)s^2&s\,h(u)&d(u)
-\end{pmatrix}.
-\end{aligned}
-\end{equation}
+.
+
+
 All other entries vanish: $R(\pm\pm,\mp\mp)$, $R(0\pm,\pm-)$, etc.\ are
 zero. Summation over intermediate spins is implied.
 
-\paragraph{Structural identities of $R$.}
-\label{sec:strip-R-structure}
+Structural identities of $R$.: 
 
-Let $P$ denote the swap $P(a\otimes b)=b\otimes a$,
-$J=\mathrm{diag}(-1,1,-1)$, $F=\left(\begin{smallmatrix}0&0&1\\0&1&0\\1&0&0\end{smallmatrix}\right)$
+
+Let $P$ denote the swap $P(a ⊗  b)=b ⊗  a$,
+$J=diag(-1,1,-1)$, $F=(0&0&1\\0&1&0\\1&0&0)$
 (spin flip), and
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Omega-W-Z}
-\Omega=\sum_{p\in\{-,0,+\}} s^{-p}\,|p,-p\rangle\in V\otimes V.
-\end{equation}
-Define moreover the rank-two operator $W\in\mathrm{Hom}(V,V\otimes V)$ by
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:W-def}
-W(|+\rangle)=\kappa(|+,0\rangle+|0,+\rangle),\quad
-W(|-\rangle)=\kappa(|-,0\rangle+|0,-\rangle),\quad
-W(|0\rangle)=|00\rangle+\kappa\sum_{p\in\{-,+\}} s^{-p}|p,-p\rangle,
-\end{equation}
-and $Z=W^*=\bar W^T\in\mathrm{Hom}(V\otimes V,V)$.
+
+Ω=\sum_{p\in\{-,0,+\}} s^{-p}\,|p,-p>\in V ⊗  V.
+
+Define moreover the rank-two operator $W\inHom(V,V ⊗  V)$ by
+
+W(|+>)=\kappa(|+,0>+|0,+>),\quad
+W(|->)=\kappa(|-,0>+|0,->),\quad
+W(|0>)=|00>+\kappa\sum_{p\in\{-,+\}} s^{-p}|p,-p>,
+
+and $Z=W^*=\bar W^T\inHom(V ⊗  V,V)$.
 
 \paragraph*{The identities.} We use the following, verified by direct
-substitution in \eqref{eq:R-coeffs}--\eqref{eq:R-matrix}.
+substitution in (eq:R-coeffs)--(eq:R-matrix).
+
+[$R$-matrix identities]
 
-\begin{proposition}[$R$-matrix identities]
-\label{prop:R-identities}
 For all complex $u$ away from poles,
-\begin{align}
-R_{21}(u) &= R_{12}^T(u),&\text{(transpose)}\label{eq:R-transpose}\\
-R_{12}(u) R_{12}^T(-u) &= I,&\text{(unitarity)}\label{eq:R-unitarity}\\
-R_{12}(u+\pi) &= J_1 R_{12}(u) J_1,&\text{(pi-periodicity)}\label{eq:R-pi-periodic}\\
-R_{12}(b-u)_{ij,kl} &= s^{k-i} R_{12}(u)_{-i,l;-k,j},&\text{(crossing)}\label{eq:R-crossing}\\
-R_{12}(0) &= P_{12},&\text{(permutation at zero)}\label{eq:R-at-zero}\\
-R_{12}(b) &= \Omega\,\bar\Omega^T,&\text{(rank-one at b)}\label{eq:R-at-b}\\
-R_{12}(2L) &= W Z.&\text{(rank-two at 2L)}\label{eq:R-at-2L}
-\end{align}
-\end{proposition}
-
-\begin{proof}
-\emph{Transpose and unitarity.} $R(u)_{ij,kl}=R(u)_{kl,ij}$ by
+
+R_{21}(u) &= R_{12}^T(u),&(transpose)\\
+R_{12}(u) R_{12}^T(-u) &= I,&(unitarity)\\
+R_{12}(u+\pi) &= J_1 R_{12}(u) J_1,&(pi-periodicity)\\
+R_{12}(b-u)_{ij,kl} &= s^{k-i} R_{12}(u)_{-i,l;-k,j},&(crossing)\\
+R_{12}(0) &= P_{12},&(permutation at zero)\\
+R_{12}(b) &= Ω\,\barΩ^T,&(rank-one at b)\\
+R_{12}(2L) &= W Z.&(rank-two at 2L)
+
+
+
+Proof. 
+Transpose and unitarity. $R(u)_{ij,kl}=R(u)_{kl,ij}$ by
 inspection (symmetric entries). Unitarity: on $(\pm,\pm)$ entries,
 $c(u)c(-u)=1$ reduces (using $Q(u)=Q(u)$, $Q(-u)=Q(u)$ up to a
 $\sin$-product sign match) to $S^2 = \sin^2(2L)$, which holds. On
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ sine-product identities; for instance $d(u)d(-u)+c(u)c(-u)+c(u)d(u)s^2
 $(+-, -+)$) is $d(u)d(-u)+c(u)c(-u)$ by $s^2+s^{-2}=0$, which then
 reduces to the $(\pm,\pm)$ check.
 
-\emph{Pi-periodicity.} $Q(u+\pi)=-Q(u)$; $a(u+\pi)=-a(u)$,
+Pi-periodicity. $Q(u+\pi)=-Q(u)$; $a(u+\pi)=-a(u)$,
 $h(u+\pi)=-h(u)$ (numerator flips sign), $c(u+\pi)=c(u)$,
 $d(u+\pi)=d(u)$, $v(u+\pi)=v(u)$. Thus on $(\pm,\pm)$, $R$ is
 pi-periodic; on $(+,0)$-type, $R$ is antisymmetric under $u\mapsto
@@ -474,48 +474,48 @@ u+\pi$, matching the $J$ insertion on either side; on $(+-,00,-+)$,
 the off-diagonal terms $h/s$ flip sign, and the $J_1$ on either side
 supplies the same flip. This identifies both sides.
 
-\emph{Crossing.} Since $Q(b-u)=Q(u)$, we have
-\begin{align*}
+Crossing. Since $Q(b-u)=Q(u)$, we have
+
 a(b-u)&=S\sin(u)\big/Q(u)=a(u),\quad
 h(b-u)=S\sin(b-u)\big/Q(u)=h(u),\\
 v(b-u)&=\sin(u)\sin(b-u)/Q(u)=v(u),\\
-c(b-u)&=\sin u \sin(u-2L)/Q(u) = c(u)+\textstyle\dots
-\end{align*}
+c(b-u)&=\sin u \sin(u-2L)/Q(u) = c(u)+\textstyle...
+
 The last is $c(b-u) = \sin u \sin(u-2L)/Q(u)$. The $S$-multiplying
 prefactor $s^{k-i}$ arises from the third block containing factors of
 $s$, $s^{-1}$, $s^{\pm2}$ that correspond to index differences $k-i$.
-Each entry of \eqref{eq:R-crossing} follows.
+Each entry of (eq:R-crossing) follows.
 
-\emph{Special values at $0$, $b$, $2L$.} At $u=0$: $a=h=d=0$,
+Special values at $0$, $b$, $2L$. At $u=0$: $a=h=d=0$,
 $v=c=1$; $R$ reduces to permutation $P$. At $u=b$: $Q(b)=\sin(4L)\sin(2b)
 = 1 \cdot \sin(6L) = \sin(\pi/4+\pi/2) = \sin(3\pi/4) = S$;
-direct check gives $R(b)=\Omega\bar\Omega^T$. At $u=2L$:
+direct check gives $R(b)=Ω\barΩ^T$. At $u=2L$:
 $Q(2L)=\sin(4L)\sin(2L+3L)=\sin(4L)\sin(5L)=1\cdot S$; direct check
 gives $R(2L)=WZ$.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{The fusion equation.}
-\label{sec:strip-fusion}
+
+The fusion equation.: 
+
 
 The key insertion identity:
 
-\begin{proposition}[Basic fusion]\label{prop:R-fusion}
-Let $f$ index a fused spin. Then on $V_1\otimes V_2\otimes V_3$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:R-fusion}
+[Basic fusion]
+Let $f$ index a fused spin. Then on $V_1 ⊗  V_2 ⊗  V_3$,
+
 R_{23}(u-L)\,R_{13}(u+L)\,W_{12} = W_{12}\,R_{f3}(u).
-\end{equation}
+
 Here $W_{12}$ acts on slots $1,2$ with fused output $f$, and $R_{f3}$
-acts on $f\otimes V_3$.
-\end{proposition}
+acts on $f ⊗  V_3$.
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+Proof. 
 Transposing gives the adjoint form
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:R-fusion-adjoint}
+
 Z_{12}\,R_{13}(u+L)\,R_{23}(u-L) = R_{f3}(u)\,Z_{12}.
-\end{equation}
-We prove \eqref{eq:R-fusion}. Multiply both sides on the right by
+
+We prove (eq:R-fusion). Multiply both sides on the right by
 $R_{32}(L-u)=R_{23}(L-u)^{-1}$ (unitarily, using $R_{32}=R_{23}^T$ and
-\eqref{eq:R-unitarity}). The required identity becomes
+(eq:R-unitarity)). The required identity becomes
 \[
 R_{23}(u-L)\,R_{13}(u+L)\,W_{12}\,R_{32}(L-u) = W_{12}.
 \]
@@ -531,133 +531,133 @@ $Q_+=Q(u+L)$, and using $QQ'/Q_+=-t_{-3}t_2$ (a direct computation from
 $\sin(\cdot)$ products), is:
 
 On $(+,+)$-input:
-\begin{equation*}
+
 cv' = c_+,\quad cc'=v_+,\quad ca'=a_+.
-\end{equation*}
+
 
 On $(+,0)$-input and $(0,+)$-input (spin flips are analogous):
-\begin{gather*}
+
 v+ah'=v_+,\quad vv'+aa'/\kappa=1,\quad va'+av'/\kappa=a_+,\quad
 vh'+ad'=0,\quad ac'=h_+;\\
 \kappa(a+vh')=a_+,\quad av'+va'/\kappa=h_+,\quad
 \kappa aa'+vv'=v_+,\quad ah'+vd'=c_+,\quad vc'=d_+.
-\end{gather*}
+
 
 On $(00)$-input:
-\begin{equation*}
+
 \kappa(a'+v'h)=h_+,\quad v'+a'h=v_+,\quad h'+\kappa h c'=\kappa a_+.
-\end{equation*}
+
 
 On $(+-)$-input:
-\begin{equation*}
+
 h+\kappa c h'=\kappa h_+,\quad hh'+\kappa(cd'+c'd)=0,\quad
 dv'+ha'=d_+,\quad da'+hv'=0,
-\end{equation*}
+
 together with the $(+,+)$-input relations applied to the $(-,-)$ pair.
 
 Each of the above identities reduces to combinations of the six
 elementary sine products
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:fusion-aux}
-\begin{gathered}
+
+
 t_{-2}t_2 = t_0^2 - S^2,\quad
 t_{j-1}+t_{j+1}=t_j/\kappa,\quad
 t_{-3}t_4=t_0t_1 - S^2/\kappa,\\
 t_3t_4 = S^2/\kappa - t_0 t_{-1},\quad
 t_0t_{-1}-t_{-2}t_1=\kappa S^2,\quad
 t_2t_1 - t_{-2}t_{-1}=t_0t_4/\kappa.
-\end{gathered}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 For example, "$v+ah'=v_+$" is exactly $-t_{-3}t_0 + S t_{-3}S
 t_{-1}/(Q'Q) \stackrel{?}{=} -t_1t_{-2}/Q_+$; cross-multiplying by
 $QQ_+$ reduces (using $QQ'/Q_+=-t_{-3}t_2$) to a case of
-\eqref{eq:fusion-aux}. All remaining cases are identical.
-\end{proof}
+(eq:fusion-aux). All remaining cases are identical.
+
 
-\paragraph{The Yang--Baxter equation.}
-\label{sec:strip-YBE}
+The Yang--Baxter equation.: 
 
-\begin{proposition}[Yang--Baxter]\label{prop:YBE}
+
+[Yang--Baxter]
 For all $u,v$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:YBE}
+
 R_{12}(u-v)\,R_{13}(u)\,R_{23}(v) = R_{23}(v)\,R_{13}(u)\,R_{12}(u-v).
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+
+Proof. 
 Fix $v=0$ (general $v$ follows by shift). At $u-v=0$, both sides are
 $P R R$ vs $R R P$, which coincide because $R$ is $P$-symmetric on the
 symmetric block and antisymmetric on the antisymmetric block (checked
-from \eqref{eq:R-matrix}). At $u-v=2L$, use $R(2L)=WZ$ and
-\eqref{eq:R-fusion}+\eqref{eq:R-fusion-adjoint}: the $W$ on the left
-absorbs one $R$ on each side, leaving $\mathrm{Id}$ on the fused
+from (eq:R-matrix)). At $u-v=2L$, use $R(2L)=WZ$ and
+(eq:R-fusion)+(eq:R-fusion-adjoint): the $W$ on the left
+absorbs one $R$ on each side, leaving $Id$ on the fused
 space, and the $Z$ similarly closes to identity on the right. At
-$u-v=b$, use $R(b)=\Omega\bar\Omega^T$: $W$ now inserts $\Omega$, and
-both sides collapse to $\Omega$ paired with itself (with the adjoint
+$u-v=b$, use $R(b)=Ω\barΩ^T$: $W$ now inserts $Ω$, and
+both sides collapse to $Ω$ paired with itself (with the adjoint
 fusion closing the loop).
 
 For generic $u,v$, after clearing $Q$-denominators, each entry of the
 difference is a trigonometric polynomial in $u$ (fixed $v$) of degree
 at most $4$, periodic or antiperiodic by $\pi$; the three values
 $u\in\{v,v+2L,v+b\}$ therefore determine the entry. This proves
-\eqref{eq:YBE} identically.
-\end{proof}
+(eq:YBE) identically.
+
+
 
 
+The boundary matrix $K_e(t)$.: 
 
-\paragraph{The boundary matrix $K_e(t)$.}
-\label{sec:strip-boundary}
 
-The row transfer also needs a \emph{boundary} matrix that closes each
+The row transfer also needs a boundary matrix that closes each
 row into a double row. For a formal variable $e$ with $e^2=0$, set
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:K-def}
-k(t)=\frac{\sin(\gamma-t)}{\sin(\gamma+t)},\qquad
-l(t)=\frac{\sin(2t)}{\sin(\gamma+t)},
-\end{equation}
-$D_e(t)=\mathrm{diag}(k(t),1,k(t))+ e\,l(t)(E_{+,0}+s E_{0,-})\in
-\mathrm{End}(V)$, and
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Ke-def}
-K_e(t)\in\mathrm{Hom}(V,V\otimes V),\qquad K_e(t)_{\,p,-m}
+
+k(t)=(\sin(\gamma-t))/(\sin(\gamma+t)),\qquad
+l(t)=(\sin(2t))/(\sin(\gamma+t)),
+
+$D_e(t)=diag(k(t),1,k(t))+ e\,l(t)(E_{+,0}+s E_{0,-})\in
+End(V)$, and
+
+K_e(t)\inHom(V,V ⊗  V),\qquad K_e(t)_{\,p,-m}
 =s^m(D_e(t))_{pm}.
-\end{equation}
+
 That is, $K_e(t)$ makes the $+/-$ boundary identifications via the $s$
 weight while imposing $D_e$ on the surviving pair.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Boundary fusion]
-\label{prop:K-fusion}
+[Boundary fusion]
+
 For all complex $t$, with $r=b-t$:
-\begin{align}
-D_e(t)D_e(-t) &= I,\label{eq:K-unitary}\\
-R(t-r) K_e(t) &= P K_e(r),\label{eq:K-swap}\\
-D_{e,2}(t-L)\,R(2t)\,D_{e,1}(t+L)\,\bar W &= W\,D_e(t),\label{eq:K-fusion-below}\\
-W^T D_{e,2}(t+L)\,R(2t)\,D_{e,1}(t-L) &= D_e(t)\,\bar W^T.\label{eq:K-fusion-above}
-\end{align}
-\end{proposition}
-
-\begin{proof}
-\emph{Unitarity.} $k(-t)=\sin(\gamma+t)/\sin(\gamma-t)=1/k(t)$ (oddness of $\sin$). Also
+
+D_e(t)D_e(-t) &= I,\\
+R(t-r) K_e(t) &= P K_e(r),\\
+D_{e,2}(t-L)\,R(2t)\,D_{e,1}(t+L)\,\bar W &= W\,D_e(t),\\
+W^T D_{e,2}(t+L)\,R(2t)\,D_{e,1}(t-L) &= D_e(t)\,\bar W^T.
+
+
+
+Proof. 
+Unitarity. $k(-t)=\sin(\gamma+t)/\sin(\gamma-t)=1/k(t)$ (oddness of $\sin$). Also
 $l(-t)=\sin(-2t)/\sin(\gamma-t)=-\sin(2t)/\sin(\gamma-t)
 =-l(t)\sin(\gamma+t)/\sin(\gamma-t)=-l(t)/k(-t)$;
 equivalently $l(-t)k(-t)=-l(t)$.
 Now the diagonal of $D_e(t)D_e(-t)$ is
-$\mathrm{diag}(k(t)k(-t),1,k(t)k(-t))=I$. Since $e^2=0$, only the two
+$diag(k(t)k(-t),1,k(t)k(-t))=I$. Since $e^2=0$, only the two
 $e$-linear cross terms survive, at matrix positions $(+,0)$ and
 $(0,-)$ respectively. Coefficient of $(+,0)$: $k(t)l(-t)+l(t)$.
 Coefficient of $(0,-)$: $s\,[k(t)l(-t)+l(t)]$. Both vanish by
 $l(-t)=-l(t)/k(t)$. Hence $D_e(t)D_e(-t)=I$.
 
-\emph{Swapping K.} On total spin $0$ (component $\bar\Omega$), the
+Swapping K. On total spin $0$ (component $\barΩ$), the
 check reduces to $c(t-r) k(t)+h(t-r)=k(r)$; on total spin $1$ it
 reduces to $(v+a)(t-r)l(t)=l(r)$. Writing $y=t-\gamma$, these follow
 from the two sine identities
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:K-swap-trig}
+
 \sin(L-y)\sin(b-2y)+\sin(L+y)\sin(b+2y)=S\cos y,\qquad
 \cos(L\pm y)=\sin(b\mp y).
-\end{equation}
 
-\emph{Fusion below}. We sketch. Transposing the second fusion gives the
+
+Fusion below. We sketch. Transposing the second fusion gives the
 fourth (using $F\bar D_e F = D_{e/s}^T$ at formal real $e$). For the
-third, \eqref{eq:K-fusion-below}, evaluate at $u=2t$ and use
-$Q(2t)=\sin(4L)\sin(2t+3L)\cdot\dots$; on the three columns of
+third, (eq:K-fusion-below), evaluate at $u=2t$ and use
+$Q(2t)=\sin(4L)\sin(2t+3L)\cdot...$; on the three columns of
 $D_{e,2}R(2t)D_{e,1}\bar W$ the constant term in $e$ reduces to
 $v k_+ + a = k$ and the linear term to $k_-(a k_+ + v)=k$ and
 $k_-(h+\kappa c k_+)=\kappa$. Writing
@@ -665,8 +665,8 @@ $H_\pm=\sin(\gamma\pm t)$, $G_\pm=\cos(\gamma\pm t)$,
 $F_\pm=\sin(L/2\pm t)$, $P_\pm=\sin(2L\pm 2t)$, $T_0=\sin(2t)$,
 substituting $k_+=F_-/G_-$, $k_-=G_+/F_+$, $l_+=P_+/G_-$,
 $l_-=-P_-/F_+$ gives the sine identities
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:K-fusion-trig}
-\begin{gathered}
+
+
 P_+ G_+-S G_-=T_0 F_-,\quad
 P_+F_+-S F_-=T_0 G_-,\quad
 2(H_+ F_+ P_+ -H_-F_-P_-) = S T_0/\kappa,\\
@@ -674,44 +674,44 @@ P_- H_+-S H_-=T_0 F_-,\quad \kappa H_- -F_-=\kappa F_+,\quad
 H_-=\kappa(F_-+G_+),\\
 S+\sin(2t-L)=2F_+G_-,\quad
 P_+ H_+ G_+-P_- H_- G_-=\cos L\,T_0\cos(2t).
-\end{gathered}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 Each is a direct substitution using $8L=\pi$ and $\sin(2L)=1/\sqrt2$.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{The double-row operator $T(t)$.}
-\label{sec:strip-double-row}
 
-For an integer $N\ge1$, let $V_{\mathrm{sites}}=V^{\otimes N}$ with
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:U-def}
-U_\alpha(t) = \big(D_e(t)\,R(t+\zeta_{a_1})\cdots R(t+\zeta_{a_N})\big)_{a_1\cdots a_N;b_1\cdots b_N}
-\end{equation}
+The double-row operator $T(t)$.: 
+
+
+For an integer $N\ge1$, let $V_{sites}=V^{ ⊗  N}$ with
+
+U_\alpha(t) = \big(D_e(t)\,R(t+\zeta_{a_1})... R(t+\zeta_{a_N})\big)_{a_1... a_N;b_1... b_N}
+
 where $\alpha\in\{1,2\}$ labels the two rows and $\zeta_j$ are the
 $N$ fixed rapidities. Concretely: each row uses $N$ local $R$-matrices
 acting on the auxiliary row space $V$ and on the $N$ site spaces.
 
-The full operator on $V\otimes V\otimes V^{\otimes N}\otimes V\otimes V$
+The full operator on $V ⊗  V ⊗  V^{ ⊗  N} ⊗  V ⊗  V$
 (the two boundary auxiliary spaces plus the $N$ site spaces) is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:T-def}
+
 T(t) = K_{e_\ell}(r)_{AB}^T\,U_A(t)\,U_B(r)\,K_{e_r}(t)_{AB},\qquad r=b-t,
-\end{equation}
+
 where $e_\ell$, $e_r$ are formal nilpotent parameters ($e_\ell^2=e_r^2=0$).
 The transposed $K$ acts as a covector on the left.
 
 $T(t)$ has the following properties, which are what we will use.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Structure of $T(t)$]\label{prop:T-structure}
-\begin{enumerate}
+[Structure of $T(t)$]
+
 \item $T(t)$ is $\pi$-periodic: $T(t+\pi)=T(t)$.
 \item $T(t)$ is symmetric under interchange of the two rows: $T(t)=T(r)$.
 \item $T(0)=T(4L)=I$ on the physical (total-spin-zero) sector.
-\end{enumerate}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+
+Proof. 
 (1) $K_e(t+\pi)=J_1 J_2 K_e(t)$, using $k(t+\pi)=k(t)$, $l(t+\pi)=l(t)$
 (period $\pi$ of sines with $\gamma=3L$). Then $J_1 J_2 R(t+\pi+\zeta)
-= R(t+\zeta)J_1 J_2$ by \eqref{eq:R-pi-periodic}, and $J_1 J_2$ cancels
+= R(t+\zeta)J_1 J_2$ by (eq:R-pi-periodic), and $J_1 J_2$ cancels
 with its transpose.
 
 (2) Row interchange: Yang--Baxter gives
@@ -720,102 +720,102 @@ $T$ this reduces to the input and output swap identities
 $R(t-r)K_e(t) = P K_e(r)$ and the $r,t$ version. So $T$ is symmetric.
 
 (3) $T(0)=I$: at $t=0$ we have $r=b$ and $k(0)=1$, $l(0)=0$, so
-$K_e(0)=\bar\Omega$. Both local $R$'s, $R(0)=P$ and $R(b)=\Omega\bar\Omega^T$,
-act as rank-one contractions on the input $\bar\Omega$, giving
-$(T(0))_{\varnothing,\varnothing}=1$ (in fact $T(0)=I$). For
+$K_e(0)=\barΩ$. Both local $R$'s, $R(0)=P$ and $R(b)=Ω\barΩ^T$,
+act as rank-one contractions on the input $\barΩ$, giving
+$(T(0))_{∅,∅}=1$ (in fact $T(0)=I$). For
 $T(4L)$: use $T(t+\pi)=T(t)$ from (1) to rewrite the second row's
 parameter $r=-L$ as $r+\pi=7L$; then $t-r=4L-7L=-b$, and the
 swap structure of the two $R$'s at parameters differing by $b$
 closes the contraction, giving identity.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Commutation of $T(t)$ and $T(y)$.}
 
-\begin{proposition}[Commuting double rows]\label{prop:T-commute}
+Commutation of $T(t)$ and $T(y)$.: 
+
+[Commuting double rows]
 For all $t,y$ in $\mathbb C$ away from poles,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:T-commute}
+
 T(t)T(y) = T(y)T(t).
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+
+Proof. 
 Take labels $A,B,C,D'$ of parameters $t,r,y,b-y$ respectively.
 To interchange the pairs $BC$ and $AC$ (resp.\ $BD'$ and $AD'$), apply
 $R_{AC}(t-y)$ and $R_{BD'}^T(t-y)$ and their $b-y$ analogues. Invariance
 of the right boundary vector
 $V=K_{e_r}(t)_{AB}K_{e_r}(y)_{CD'}$ reduces (using
-\eqref{eq:R-crossing}) to the reflection identity
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:reflection}
+(eq:R-crossing)) to the reflection identity
+
 R(t-y)D_{e,1}(t)R(t+y)^T D_{e,2}(y)
 =D_{e,2}(y)R(t+y)D_{e,1}(t)R(t-y)^T.
-\end{equation}
+
 The left boundary works identically by transposing. So $T(t)T(y)=T(y)T(t)$.
-\end{proof}
 
-\begin{proof}[Proof of \eqref{eq:reflection}]
+
+Proof. [Proof of (eq:reflection)]
 Fix generic $y$. Sample the identity at the special values $t=y,-y,0,4L,
-y+2L,y-2L,y+b,y-b$. Each check reduces to one of \eqref{eq:K-swap-trig},
-\eqref{eq:K-fusion-below}, \eqref{eq:K-unitary}, $R(0)=P$,
-$R(b)=\Omega\bar\Omega^T$ or $R(2L)=WZ$. For instance at $t=y$ both sides
+y+2L,y-2L,y+b,y-b$. Each check reduces to one of (eq:K-swap-trig),
+(eq:K-fusion-below), (eq:K-unitary), $R(0)=P$,
+$R(b)=Ω\barΩ^T$ or $R(2L)=WZ$. For instance at $t=y$ both sides
 are $P D_{e,2}(y)^2 P$ by $R(0)=P$ and $D_e(y)D_e(-y)=I$. At $t=y+2L$
-the right side becomes $WD_e((t+y)/2)W^T$ via \eqref{eq:K-fusion-below};
+the right side becomes $WD_e((t+y)/2)W^T$ via (eq:K-fusion-below);
 the left side matches by unitarity. At $t=y+b$: right side is
-$\Omega\Omega^T$ using $D_{e,2}(y)R(t+y)K_e(t) = PD_{e,1}(y)K_e(-y)=\Omega$.
+$ΩΩ^T$ using $D_{e,2}(y)R(t+y)K_e(t) = PD_{e,1}(y)K_e(-y)=Ω$.
 After clearing denominators, the difference
-in \eqref{eq:reflection} is a trigonometric polynomial of degree $\le6$
+in (eq:reflection) is a trigonometric polynomial of degree $\le6$
 in $t$, periodic/antiperiodic by $\pi$. Seven samples suffice.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{The fusion identity for rows.}
-\label{sec:strip-fuse-rows}
+
+The fusion identity for rows.: 
+
 
 The key algebraic step in extracting the physical eigenvalue is the
 following.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Row fusion]\label{prop:row-fusion}
-For all $t$ and all $i\in\{1,\dots,N\}$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:T-row-fuse}
-T(t-L) T(t+L) = T(t)\quad\text{on the physical sector.}
-\end{equation}
-More precisely, $T(t)^m_{\varnothing,\varnothing}=1$ for all $m\ge0$
+[Row fusion]
+For all $t$ and all $i\in\{1,...,N\}$,
+
+T(t-L) T(t+L) = T(t)\quadon the physical sector.
+
+More precisely, $T(t)^m_{∅,∅}=1$ for all $m\ge0$
 and all $t$, and the above identity holds on the total-spin-zero
 eigenline of $T(t)$.
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+Proof. 
 Use labels $B,C,A,D'$ with parameters $t-L, r+L, t+L, r-L$. Swap the
-middle rows by $R_{CA}(r-t)$, and use \eqref{eq:K-fusion-below}
+middle rows by $R_{CA}(r-t)$, and use (eq:K-fusion-below)
 componentwise; the fused boundary columns from $K_{e_\ell}K_{e_\ell}$
 become a single $K_{e_\ell}$ on the surviving total-spin sector, and
 similarly on the right. The remaining bulk $R$'s act on the two
-intermediate fused spins by the fusion equation \eqref{eq:R-fusion}
+intermediate fused spins by the fusion equation (eq:R-fusion)
 applied with $u=t$. This contracts both surviving $R_{f3}$
 occurrences to identity and leaves $T(t)$. The details parallel the
-commutation proof, using \eqref{eq:K-fusion-below} where the swap proof
-used \eqref{eq:K-swap-trig}.
-\end{proof}
+commutation proof, using (eq:K-fusion-below) where the swap proof
+used (eq:K-swap-trig).
+
 
 
 
-\paragraph{The physical eigenvalue at homogeneous rapidities.}
-\label{sec:strip-physical}
+The physical eigenvalue at homogeneous rapidities.: 
+
 
 We now pass from the algebraic structure of $T(t)$ to the physical
 bridge mass. The key step (this subsection) is showing that, at the
-\emph{physical specialization} $t=\gamma$, $\xi_j=-L/2$ (all $N$
+physical specialization $t=\gamma$, $\xi_j=-L/2$ (all $N$
 sites), the eigenvalue $1$ of $T(\gamma)$ corresponds to the same
 planar-path measure that defines $B_N$, and that the mixed coefficient
 in the two boundary variables gives exactly $B_N$.
 
-\paragraph{Planar path expansion.}
+Planar path expansion.: 
 The product $T(\gamma)^m$ of $m$ double rows, evaluated between empty
 tensor states on sites and trivial vectors on boundaries, expands as a
-sum over \emph{planar path systems} in an oriented square diagram.
+sum over planar path systems in an oriented square diagram.
 Each local tile (one triangle of the honeycomb) contributes one of the
 following arc configurations, with weights from $a,h,v,c,d$:
 
-\begin{center}
-\begin{tabular}{c|c}
+
+{c|c}
 config & weight \\
 \hline
 empty & $1$ \\
@@ -824,64 +824,64 @@ single e-s or n-w & $h(u)$ \\
 single straight-across & $v(u)$ \\
 double (e-n and s-w) & $c(u)$ \\
 double (e-s and n-w) & $d(u)$ \\
-\end{tabular}
-\end{center}
+
+
 The arcs carry phases: all $+1$ except e-to-s (orientation from east wall
 to south wall) which gets $s$, and n-to-w which gets $s^{-1}$; reversing
 an arc conjugates. Boundary U-turns are $k(t)l(t)$-weighted at the two
 edges.
 
-\paragraph{Loop cancellation.} Every closed planar loop in the diagram
+Loop cancellation.:  Every closed planar loop in the diagram
 encloses a finite region of the honeycomb lattice. The two possible
 orientations of a simple closed loop have tangent-turn angles
 $\pm 2\pi$ (contractible) or $0$ (essential, wrapping around the
 period). Summing the two orientations:
 
-\begin{itemize}
+
 \item contractible: the phases differ by $s^{2}-s^{-2}=0$;
 \item essential: same total phase, so also cancels;
 \item at the boundary, U-turns pair off.
-\end{itemize}
+
 Hence the entries of $T(t)$ at $e_\ell=e_r=0$ reduce to sums over
-\emph{systems of non-self-intersecting arcs and bridges}. In particular
-$T(t)^m_{\varnothing,\varnothing}=1$ for any $t$ (no closed-path
+systems of non-self-intersecting arcs and bridges. In particular
+$T(t)^m_{∅,∅}=1$ for any $t$ (no closed-path
 contribution).
 
-\paragraph{Physical tile weights.}
+Physical tile weights.: 
 At $t=\gamma$ we have $k(\gamma)=\sin(\gamma-\gamma)/\sin(2\gamma)=0$:
 the boundary is closed. The sites sit at $\xi_j=-L/2$ so the tile
 argument is $\gamma+\xi_j=L$. Substituting:
-\begin{align}
-a(L)&=\frac{S\sin(2L)}{\sin(3L)}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2+\sqrt2}}=\kappa,\\
-h(L)&=v(L)=c(L)=\frac{S\sin(L)}{\sin(3L)}=\frac{1}{2+\sqrt2}=\kappa^2,\\
-d(L)&=\frac{\sin(L)\sin(0)}{\sin(3L)}=0.
-\end{align}
+
+a(L)&=(S\sin(2L))/(\sin(3L))=\frac{1}{√(2+\sqrt2)}=\kappa,\\
+h(L)&=v(L)=c(L)=(S\sin(L))/(\sin(3L))=(1)/(2+\sqrt2)=\kappa^2,\\
+d(L)&=(\sin(L)\sin(0))/(\sin(3L))=0.
+
 These are exactly the honeycomb path weights: passing through a
 triangle centre costs $\kappa$, and pairing two arcs at a shared centre
 costs $\kappa^2=\kappa\cdot\kappa$.
 
-\paragraph{The $m\to\infty$ limit.}
+The $m\to∞$ limit.: 
 Entries of $T(\gamma)^m$ are sums over configurations in an $m$-long,
 $N$-wide double-row strip. Configurations whose arcs all stay within
 the interior of the strip contribute a factor $\le C^{m}$ with $C<1$
 (chosen from the "no-growth" option, weight $1$, per row) and hence
-vanish as $m\to\infty$. Surviving configurations are unions of
-\begin{itemize}
+vanish as $m\to∞$. Surviving configurations are unions of
+
 \item U-turn boundary arcs at the left and right edges (bounded mass);
 \item bridges crossing the strip from left to right (mass by Theorem
-\ref{thm:finite-bridges}, order $m^{-1/4}$ per unit width).
-\end{itemize}
+thm:finite-bridges, order $m^{-1/4}$ per unit width).
+
 Bridge contributions to the empty-to-empty entry are
-\emph{phases that cancel by the parafermionic identity} (the
+phases that cancel by the parafermionic identity (the
 Duminil-Copin--Smirnov observable; see the proof of the analogous
-identity in Section~\ref{sec:sewing}). So the $m\to\infty$ limiting
+identity in Section~sec:sewing). So the $m\to∞$ limiting
 empty-to-empty entry of the normalized projection
-$P_0 := \lim_{m\to\infty}T(\gamma)^m$ is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:P00}
-(P_0)_{\varnothing,\varnothing}=1.
-\end{equation}
+$P_0 := \lim_{m\to∞}T(\gamma)^m$ is
 
-\paragraph{Simplicity of the eigenvalue $1$.}
+(P_0)_{∅,∅}=1.
+
+
+Simplicity of the eigenvalue $1$.: 
 To complete the rank-one picture, we need $1$ to be a simple eigenvalue of
 $T(\gamma)$ on the total-spin-zero sector. The proof is by sending one
 site's rapidity to imaginary infinity: the local $R$-matrices become
@@ -894,61 +894,61 @@ simplicity persists at every $N$.
 Hence $T(\gamma)$ has a joint generalized-eigenspace decomposition; on
 the eigenvalue-$1$ eigenspace it acts as the rank-one projector $P_0$.
 
-\paragraph{The mixed coefficient and $q(t;\xi)$.}
+The mixed coefficient and $q(t;\xi)$.: 
 Now let $e_\ell,e_r$ be formal variables (with $e^{-2}=0$). The
 eigenvalue of $T(t)$ near the physical point, expanded to first order
 in $e_\ell e_r$, is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:T-eigen-e}
-T(t)\text{ on the eigenvalue-$1$ line}\quad\leadsto\quad
+
+T(t) on the eigenvalue-$1$ line\quad↝\quad
 1+e_\ell\,e_r\,q(t;\xi)+O((e_\ell e_r)^2)
-\end{equation}
+
 where $q(t;\xi)$ is a scalar function. Equivalently, in the mixed
 coefficient of $T(t)^m$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:m-power}
-[e_\ell e_r](T(t)^m)_{\varnothing,\varnothing}
+
+[e_\ell e_r](T(t)^m)_{∅,∅}
 = m\,q(t;\xi)+O(1).
-\end{equation}
+
 (The $O(1)$ comes from derivatives of the projection and decays
 exponentially in $m$ by the spectral gap to the next eigenvalue.)
 
-\paragraph{The coefficient $q$ is the bridge mass.}
+The coefficient $q$ is the bridge mass.: 
 At $t=\gamma$ and $\xi=-L/2$ (homogeneous), the coefficient $q$
 counts configurations with one terminal U-turn on each edge, equipped
-with positive orientation. These are precisely \emph{honeycomb
-bridges}: paths entering at a lower terminal, crossing the $2m$-row
+with positive orientation. These are precisely honeycomb
+bridges: paths entering at a lower terminal, crossing the $2m$-row
 strip, and exiting at an upper terminal. The factor $2$ in
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:B-N-formula}
-B_N = \frac{1}{2}q(\gamma;\xi)
-\end{equation}
+
+B_N = (1)/(2)q(\gamma;\xi)
+
 counts the two identical mechanisms (two rows) per bridge.
 
-\paragraph{Equivalently.} Extraction of $[e_\ell e_r]$ in
-\eqref{eq:m-power}, translation invariance, and the bridge count give
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:B-N-full}
-B_N = \lim_{m\to\infty}\frac{1}{2m}
-[e_\ell e_r](T(\gamma)^m)_{\varnothing,\varnothing}
-=\frac{1}{2}q(\gamma;\xi).
-\end{equation}
+Equivalently.:  Extraction of $[e_\ell e_r]$ in
+(eq:m-power), translation invariance, and the bridge count give
+
+B_N = \lim_{m\to∞}(1)/(2m)
+[e_\ell e_r](T(\gamma)^m)_{∅,∅}
+=(1)/(2)q(\gamma;\xi).
+
+
+Analytic structure of $q(t;\xi)$.: 
 
-\paragraph{Analytic structure of $q(t;\xi)$.}
-\label{sec:strip-q-structure}
 
 We now show that $q(t;\xi)$, viewed as a function of $t$, has
 enough structure to be pinned down by finitely many linear conditions.
 Denote $\mathbf X(t)=\cos(2t)$.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Rational structure of $q$]\label{prop:q-rational}
-There exists a fixed scalar $\rho$ (depending only on $a_*,\dots$)
+[Rational structure of $q$]
+There exists a fixed scalar $\rho$ (depending only on $a_*,...$)
 and a polynomial $p(t)$ of $\mathbf X(t)$ of degree at most $N+1$
 such that
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:q-rational}
+
 q(t;\xi)=\frac{p(t)}{(\mathbf X+1)^{N}(\mathbf X+\cos 2L)^{N+1}},
-\end{equation}
-and the polynomial part of $q$ as $\mathbf X\to\infty$ is $4\mathbf X+\rho$.
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}
-The $m\to\infty$ limit and (1) column-by-column: the only pole sources
+and the polynomial part of $q$ as $\mathbf X\to∞$ is $4\mathbf X+\rho$.
+
+
+Proof. 
+The $m\to∞$ limit and (1) column-by-column: the only pole sources
 in $T(t)$ as a function of $t$ are the zeros of $Q(u)$. For each $U$
 (row transfer), we have $N$ local $R$-matrices plus two boundary
 $K$'s; setting $\mathbf X=\cos(2t)$ converts all $t$-dependences to
@@ -958,182 +958,182 @@ $\mathbf X=-\cos(2L)$; the $N$ local poles pile at
 $(\mathbf X+1)^N(\mathbf X+\cos 2L)^{N+1}$. (The extra $\cos 2L$
 power comes from combining the left and right boundary $K$'s.)
 
-For the polynomial part: as $\mathbf X\to\infty$, $T(t)$ tends to
+For the polynomial part: as $\mathbf X\to∞$, $T(t)$ tends to
 $I+$ single-$t$-matrix terms by unitarity, contributing $4\mathbf X$
 from the leading coefficient; a fixed scalar $\rho$ traces the linear
 correction.
-\end{proof}
 
-\begin{proposition}[Zeros of $q$]\label{prop:q-zeros}
+
+[Zeros of $q$]
 The following hold:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:q-zeros-1}
+
 q(3L/2;\xi)=q(5L/2;\xi)=0.
-\end{equation}
+
 Moreover, as an identity in the argument $u=t-\gamma$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:q-zeros-2}
+
 q(\gamma+u-L;\xi)+q(\gamma+u+L;\xi)-q(\gamma+u;\xi)
-\text{ has a zero of multiplicity}
-\begin{cases}
-\ge 2N & \text{at } u=0,\\
-\ge N & \text{at } u=L.
-\end{cases}
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
-
-\begin{proof}
+ has a zero of multiplicity
+
+\ge 2N & at  u=0,\\
+\ge N & at  u=L.
+
+
+
+
+Proof. 
 First, $q(0)=q(4L)=0$: at $t=0$ and $t=4L$, $T(t)=I$ on the
-physical sector (Proposition~\ref{prop:T-structure}(3)), so the
+physical sector (Proposition~prop:T-structure(3)), so the
 eigenvalue $1$ is exact and the $e_\ell e_r$ coefficient vanishes.
-Using $T(t)=T(b-t)$ from Proposition~\ref{prop:T-structure}(2), we
+Using $T(t)=T(b-t)$ from Proposition~prop:T-structure(2), we
 have $q(b)=q(0)=0$ as well. Passing to $p(u)=q(\gamma+u)$ and
 using $b=3L$, $\gamma=3L/2$:
 \[
 p(3L/2)=q(3L/2+\gamma)=q(3L)=q(b)=0,\qquad
 p(5L/2)=q(5L/2+\gamma)=q(5L/2+3L/2)=q(4L)=0.
 \]
-This proves \eqref{eq:q-zeros-1}.
+This proves (eq:q-zeros-1).
 
-For \eqref{eq:q-zeros-2}: consider
+For (eq:q-zeros-2): consider
 $T(t-L)T(t+L)-T(t)$ acting on the eigenspace. Using fusion and the
 matrix identities, the difference vanishes to order $2N$ at $t=\gamma$
 (since $2N$ local $R$-contractions align) and to order $N$ at $t=b/2$
 (from the boundary $K$'s). Taking mixed coefficients gives
-\eqref{eq:q-zeros-2}.
-\end{proof}
+(eq:q-zeros-2).
+
+
+The scalar crossing function.: 
 
-\paragraph{The scalar crossing function.}
-\label{sec:strip-p}
 
 At homogeneous $\xi_j$ (i.e., at the physical rapidities with correction
 $-L/2$ already absorbed), define
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:p-def}
+
 p(u)=q(\gamma+u;\xi),\qquad \mathbf X(u)=\cos(2(\gamma+u)).
-\end{equation}
+
 Then $p$ is even: $p(u)=p(-u)$ (from $T(t)=T(r)$, $r=b-t$,
 so $p(u)=q(\gamma+u)=q(b-\gamma-u)=q(\gamma-u)=p(-u)$). And $p$
 is $\pi$-periodic since $T$ is. So $p$ is a function of $\mathbf X$, and
-\eqref{eq:q-rational} with a change of variable gives
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:p-rational}
+(eq:q-rational) with a change of variable gives
+
 p(u)=\frac{P(\mathbf X(u))}{(\mathbf X+1)^N(\mathbf X+\cos 2L)^{N+1}}.
-\end{equation}
 
-The conditions \eqref{eq:q-zeros-1}, \eqref{eq:q-zeros-2} translate to:
-\begin{itemize}
+
+The conditions (eq:q-zeros-1), (eq:q-zeros-2) translate to:
+
 \item $P(\mathbf X(3L/2))=P(\mathbf X(5L/2))=0$, from
-$p(3L/2)=p(5L/2)=0$ via \eqref{eq:q-zeros-1}.
+$p(3L/2)=p(5L/2)=0$ via (eq:q-zeros-1).
 \item The combination $p(u-L)+p(u+L)-p(u)$ vanishes to order $2N$ at
 $u=0$ and order $N$ at $u=L$.
-\end{itemize}
+
 
 We will use the following functional-analytic representation in the
 next section. For $u$ in the horizontal strip $|\Re u|\le 5L/2$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:p-functional}
-p(u)=\mathcal L\!\left(\frac{C_u}{D}\right),
-\end{equation}
+
+p(u)=\mathcal L\!((C_u)/(D)),
+
 where
 \[
-C_u(x)=\cosh(u\sqrt x),\quad D(x)=2C_L(x)-1,
+C_u(x)=cosh(u\sqrt x),\quad D(x)=2C_L(x)-1,
 \]
 $\mathcal L$ is a fixed linear functional, and $x=z^2$.
 
-The value $2B_N=2\cdot\frac{1}{2}q(\gamma)=q(\gamma)=p(0)$ becomes
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:p-at-zero}
+The value $2B_N=2\cdot(1)/(2)q(\gamma)=q(\gamma)=p(0)$ becomes
+
 2B_N=p(0)=\mathcal L(1/D).
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{The finite functional.}
-\label{sec:strip-finite-functional}
+
+The finite functional.: 
+
 
 We now pin down $\mathcal L$. Set $\mu_0(x)=C_{L/2}(x)$,
 $\mu_1(x)=C_{3L/2}(x)$, and
-$M=\mathrm{span}\{1,x,\dots,x^{N-1};\partial_m^j C_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_{j=0}^{N-1}$.
+$M=span\{1,x,...,x^{N-1};∂_m^j C_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_{j=0}^{N-1}$.
 Then:
 
-\begin{proposition}[Finite functional]\label{prop:finite-functional}
+[Finite functional]
 There is a unique linear functional $\mathcal L$ on the span of
 $M$, $C_{L/2}$, $C_{3L/2}/D$ such that:
-\begin{align}
-\mathcal L(f) &= 0\ \text{ for every }f\in M,\label{eq:L-M}\\
-\mathcal L(C_{L/2}) &= 0,\label{eq:L-C-L-2}\\
-\mathcal L(C_{3L/2}-C_{L/2}/D) &= 0.\label{eq:L-C-3L-2}
-\end{align}
+
+\mathcal L(f) &= 0\  for every f\in M,\\
+\mathcal L(C_{L/2}) &= 0,\\
+\mathcal L(C_{3L/2}-C_{L/2}/D) &= 0.
+
 For this functional, $2B_N=\mathcal L(1/D)$ for every $N$.
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Outline]
+
+Proof. [Outline]
 Apply partial fractions to $p(u)$ in $\mathbf X$. Standard identities
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:cheb-integral}
-\int_0^\infty\frac{\cosh(uz)\sinh(mz)}{\sinh(\pi z/2)}\,dz
-=\frac{1}{2}\left[\tan(m+u)+\tan(m-u)\right]=\frac{S\sin(2m)}{\mathbf X+\cos 2m}
-\end{equation}
-(at $z$ real, $x=z^2$) give the interpolation basis $\{1,x,\dots,x^{N-1},
-\partial_m^j C_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_j$. Conditions \eqref{eq:q-zeros-2}
-of Section~\ref{sec:strip-q-structure} translate to
-\eqref{eq:L-M}; \eqref{eq:q-zeros-1} translate to
-\eqref{eq:L-C-L-2} and \eqref{eq:L-C-3L-2}. The remaining free
+
+\int_0^∞(cosh(uz)sinh(mz))/(sinh(\pi z/2))\,dz
+=(1)/(2)[\tan(m+u)+\tan(m-u)]=(S\sin(2m))/(\mathbf X+\cos 2m)
+
+(at $z$ real, $x=z^2$) give the interpolation basis $\{1,x,...,x^{N-1},
+∂_m^j C_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_j$. Conditions (eq:q-zeros-2)
+of Section~sec:strip-q-structure translate to
+(eq:L-M); (eq:q-zeros-1) translate to
+(eq:L-C-L-2) and (eq:L-C-3L-2). The remaining free
 coefficient of $1/D$ is $\mathcal L(1/D)=p(0)=2B_N$.
 
-The interpolation basis $\{1,x,\dots,x^{N-1}\}\cup
-\{\partial_m^j C_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_{j=0}^{N-1}$ is $2N$-dimensional,
+The interpolation basis $\{1,x,...,x^{N-1}\}\cup
+\{∂_m^j C_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_{j=0}^{N-1}$ is $2N$-dimensional,
 matching the space of rational functions with pole structure
 $(\mathbf X+1)^{-N}(\mathbf X+\cos 2L)^{-(N+1)}$ and polynomial
 degree $\le 2N+1$ subject to the two homogeneous constraints
-\eqref{eq:q-zeros-1} and \eqref{eq:q-zeros-2}. The identity
-\eqref{eq:cheb-integral} is a standard residue computation:
+(eq:q-zeros-1) and (eq:q-zeros-2). The identity
+(eq:cheb-integral) is a standard residue computation:
 contour shift to $z=2ik$, $k\ge1$, picks up the simple residues of
-$\sinh(\pi z/2)^{-1}$ and produces a Fourier series in $u$ that
+$sinh(\pi z/2)^{-1}$ and produces a Fourier series in $u$ that
 sums to the displayed $\tan$-combination.
-\end{proof}
 
 
 
-\paragraph{The positive interpolation estimate.}\label{c6:strip-asymptotics}
 
-Section~\ref{c6:strip-transfer} reduced the strip bridge mass to a
+The positive interpolation estimate.: 
+
+Section~c6:strip-transfer reduced the strip bridge mass to a
 single linear functional $\mathcal L$ on a $(2N+2)$-dimensional space.
 Here we evaluate $\mathcal L(1/D)$ up to an absolute constant, obtaining
 $B_N\asymp N^{-1/4}$. The engine is a determinant-density representation
 and an asymptotic estimate of characteristic products.
 
-\paragraph{Spaces, measure, determinant density.}
+Spaces, measure, determinant density.: 
 
-Retain from Proposition~\ref{prop:finite-functional}:
-\begin{itemize}
-\item measure $d\mu(x)=zD(x)\,dz/\sinh(4Lz)$, $x=z^2$;
-\item $M_N=\mathrm{span}\{1,x,\dots,x^{N-1};\partial_m^jC_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_{j=0}^{N-1}$;
+Retain from Proposition~prop:finite-functional:
+
+\item measure $d\mu(x)=zD(x)\,dz/sinh(4Lz)$, $x=z^2$;
+\item $M_N=span\{1,x,...,x^{N-1};∂_m^jC_m(x)|_{m=L}\}_{j=0}^{N-1}$;
 \item $\mathcal L(M_N)=\mathcal L(C_{L/2})=
 \mathcal L(C_{3L/2}-C_{L/2}/D)=0$;
 \item $2B_N=\mathcal L(1/D)$.
-\end{itemize}
+
 
 Set
-\begin{align}
+
 c_1&=C_{L/2},\quad c_3=C_{3L/2},\quad
-h_0=1/D,\quad h_1=c_1/D,\quad g(x)=\sinh(L\sqrt x)/\sqrt x,\\
+h_0=1/D,\quad h_1=c_1/D,\quad g(x)=sinh(L\sqrt x)/\sqrt x,\\
 F_0&=M_N+\mathbb Cc_1,\quad F=F_0+\mathbb Cc_3,\quad G=M_N+\mathbb Cg.
-\end{align}
+
 Note $g(x)=\int_0^L C_t(x)\,dt$.
 
-Let $d=2N+1=\dim F_0$. For ordered $X=(x_1<\dots<x_d)$ in $(0,\infty)^d$,
+Let $d=2N+1=\dim F_0$. For ordered $X=(x_1<...<x_d)$ in $(0,∞)^d$,
 let $\det F_0(X)$, $\det G(X)$ denote evaluation determinants (rows =
 basis functions, columns = points, jet values at coincident points).
 Put
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:nu-density}
+
 \nu = \frac{\det F_0(X)\det G(X)\prod_{i=1}^d d\mu(x_i)}
 {\int\det F_0\det G\prod d\mu}.
-\end{equation}
-By Lemma~\ref{lem:jet-positivity} below this is a probability density.
 
-\begin{lemma}[Jet positivity]\label{lem:jet-positivity}
+By Lemma~lem:jet-positivity below this is a probability density.
+
+[Jet positivity]
 Enumerate "labels" $\beta\in\{0,L^2\}$ each with multiplicity $N$, plus
 one $g$-row inserted between the two label blocks. For any ordered
-$X_1<\dots<X_d$ in $(0,\infty)$, every jet-determinant formed from
+$X_1<...<X_d$ in $(0,∞)$, every jet-determinant formed from
 complete jets of $C_{\sqrt\beta}(x)$ at the labels is positive; at
 confluent points it is nonnegative. In particular $M_N$, $F_0$, $F$, $G$
-are Chebyshev on $[0,\infty)$, counting multiplicities.
-\end{lemma}
+are Chebyshev on $[0,∞)$, counting multiplicities.
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+Proof. 
 $C_{\sqrt\beta}(x)=\sum_{j\ge0}\beta^jx^j/(2j)!$ has nonnegative
 Taylor coefficients, strictly positive for consecutive low degrees.
 Ordered power determinants on positive nodes are positive by Rolle and
@@ -1141,57 +1141,57 @@ coalescing; confluent cases are nonnegative limits. Expanding jet rows
 in these powers and using Cauchy--Binet (with nonnegative minors by
 $\beta\ge0$) gives the ordered jet determinants; the $g$ row is a
 positive integral of $C_t$ rows, $0<t<L$.
-\end{proof}
 
-\begin{proposition}[Determinant density]\label{prop:det-density}
-For $H$ with $\int|Hf|d\mu<\infty$ ($f\in M_N+\mathbb Cg$):
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:L-in-terms-of-nu}
-\frac{\mathcal L(H)}{4a_*}=\nu[e_{-4}H]+s_*\,\nu[e_0H],
-\end{equation}
+
+[Determinant density]
+For $H$ with $\int|Hf|d\mu<∞$ ($f\in M_N+\mathbb Cg$):
+
+(\mathcal L(H))/(4a_*)=\nu[e_{-4}H]+s_*\,\nu[e_0H],
+
 with $e_{-a}H=H(-a)-I_{F_0,X}H(-a)$ the residual of $F_0$-interpolation
 at nodes $X$, and $s_*=\rho/(4a_*)$ the scalar in $\mathcal L$.
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+Proof. 
 Apply Andr\'eief's identity
 $\int\det F_0\det G\prod d\mu=\det(\int F_0G^Td\mu)$ row by row: the
 integral $\int Hf\,d\mu$ against the density reduces to a projective
 $\nu$-average; point evaluations at $-4$ and $0$ enter as residual
 evaluation vectors because $H$ is fixed on the discrete $\mathcal L$
-component. See Tracy--Widom \cite{TracyWidom1998} for the identity
+component. See Tracy--Widom [cite] for the identity
 itself.
-\end{proof}
+
 
 We will use the Schur complement identity on the appended rows $c_3,
 h_0$ (eliminating $c_3$ from the $F_0$ determinant):
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:schur-identity}
+
 \nu[e_0c_3]\,\nu[e_{-4}h_0]-\nu[e_{-4}c_3]\,\nu[e_0h_0]
-=\nu\!\left[(e_0c_3)E_{-4}h_0\right],
-\end{equation}
+=\nu\![(e_0c_3)E_{-4}h_0],
+
 where $E_y$ is the residual with row $c_3$ appended before the
 $h_0$-residual.
 
 Also define the tilted measure
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:nu-tilt}
+
 d\nu_3(X)\propto -e_0c_3(X)\,d\nu(X).
-\end{equation}
+
 Since $-e_0c_3>0$ by jet positivity ($d$ is odd), $\nu_3$ is a
 probability density.
 
-\paragraph{Characteristic products.}
+Characteristic products.: 
 
-\begin{lemma}[Characteristic products]\label{lem:char-products}
+[Characteristic products]
 Fix $0<y<z$ and $r(x)=(x+y^2)/(x+z^2)$. For either $\eta=\nu$ or
 $\eta=\nu_3$ and any $N$-subset of the coordinates,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:char-products}
-\eta\!\left[\prod_{i=1}^Nr(x_i)\right]\asymp N^{b(y-z)/\pi}.
-\end{equation}
+
+\eta\![\prod_{i=1}^Nr(x_i)]\asymp N^{b(y-z)/\pi}.
+
 In the growing regime $y^2=2z^2=2N^{3/2}$ (where $1\le r\le2$)
 the same expectation is at most $\exp(o(N))$.
-\end{lemma}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
-\emph{Interlacing.} Let $m=\dim V=\dim B$, and consider the roots of
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
+Interlacing. Let $m=\dim V=\dim B$, and consider the roots of
 $\det\int V B^T(x-\lambda)d\mu'$ for either $(F_0,G_t)$ vs $(M,M)$,
 or $(A,G_t)$ vs $(U,U)$ (here $A=\{f\in F:f(0)=0\}$, $U=\{f\in M:f(0)=0\}$).
 The roots of the smaller pair interlace those of the larger. This is
@@ -1200,19 +1200,19 @@ orthogonal to a dimension-$m$ Chebyshev space flips sign at least $m$
 times; consecutive interlacing subspaces cannot share a positive root.
 Deform all $\beta$-labels to 0 continuously; interlacing is preserved.
 
-\emph{Reduction to polynomial.} In the symmetric case ($M=M$ or $U=U$),
+Reduction to polynomial. In the symmetric case ($M=M$ or $U=U$),
 the expectation is the determinant $\det(r|_H)$ of the compression of
 $r$ to $H$ in $L^2(\mu)$. By $L^2(\mu)$ approximation, $H$ lies between
 the polynomial spaces $\mathcal P_{<N}$ and $\mathcal P_{<CN}$ for
 a large absolute $C$, with operator-norm error $e^{-N}$. Hence the
 determinant changes by $1+o(1)$.
 
-\emph{Polynomial determinants.} For $\mu_c$ the probability measure
-$dp/\cosh(cp)$ on $p=\sqrt x$, put $\alpha=\pi/(2c)$ and
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:poly-gen}
+Polynomial determinants. For $\mu_c$ the probability measure
+$dp/cosh(cp)$ on $p=\sqrt x$, put $\alpha=\pi/(2c)$ and
+
 A_m(x)=\cos(\alpha m)C_m(x),\quad
-\int A_mA_n\,d\mu_c=\frac{1}{1-w_mw_n},\quad w_m=\tan(\alpha m).
-\end{equation}
+\int A_mA_n\,d\mu_c=(1)/(1-w_mw_n),\quad w_m=\tan(\alpha m).
+
 (The identity follows from
 $\int C_mC_nd\mu_c=\frac12(\sec\alpha(m+n)+\sec\alpha(m-n))$, itself a
 direct Fourier transform.) This gives explicit orthogonal polynomials
@@ -1220,50 +1220,50 @@ $P_j$ and permits precise evaluation:
 $K_{n,\mu_c}(-v^2)\asymp n^{2cv/\pi}$ for fixed $v>0$, where
 $K_{n,W'}(v)=\sup_{\deg h\le n}|h(v)|^2/\int|h|^2dW'$ is the
 normalization. Then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:poly-det}
+
 R_{W,n}(r^2)=K_{n,W'}(-y^2)/K_{n,W'}(-z^2)
 \asymp N^{2b(y-z)/\pi}.
-\end{equation}
+
 This is the Gram cofactor identity on degrees $\le n$ for the
 hyperplanes spanned by $(x+y^2)x^j$ and $(x+z^2)x^j$, $0\le j<n$.
 
-\emph{Cauchy--Schwarz.} Since $r^2$ is the product of two compressed
+Cauchy--Schwarz. Since $r^2$ is the product of two compressed
 determinants with $r$ and $r'=r\mu/\mu$, the square-root asymptotic
-\eqref{eq:char-products} follows from \eqref{eq:poly-det} plus Jensen
+(eq:char-products) follows from (eq:poly-det) plus Jensen
 on $\log r$.
-\end{proof}
+
 
 The exponentially small probability of $\{x_{N-1}<N^{3/2}\}$ follows
 by applying the growing regime: there the product is at least
 $(3/2)^{N-1}$, forcing its expectation under a probability to be tiny.
 
-\paragraph{Interpolation residuals.}
+Interpolation residuals.: 
 
-\begin{lemma}[Residual bound]\label{lem:residual-bd}
+[Residual bound]
 Let $\lambda_*=\pi/(3L)=8/3$. For $A\in\{e,E\}$ and $a\in\{0,4\}$ and
 $j\in\{0,1\}$, and for $v_i$ the interpolation nodes in increasing order:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:residual-bd}
-0\le A_{-a}h_j\le C\prod_{i=1}^N\frac{v_i+a}{v_i+\lambda_*^2}
-\end{equation}
+
+0\le A_{-a}h_j\le C\prod_{i=1}^N(v_i+a)/(v_i+\lambda_*^2)
+
 uniformly in $X$. For $h_0$ the analogous lower bound with
 $\prod_{i=1}^d$ also holds.
-\end{lemma}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
-\emph{Translate.} Put $w=x+a$, so evaluation is at $0$ with strictly
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
+Translate. Put $w=x+a$, so evaluation is at $0$ with strictly
 positive ordered nodes.
 
-\emph{Monodromy.} In this coordinate, each residual against the jet
-space is a \emph{convex} combination of monomial residuals with powers
-$0,\ldots,N-1$ and at most one additional power. This uses Cauchy--Binet
+Monodromy. In this coordinate, each residual against the jet
+space is a convex combination of monomial residuals with powers
+$0,...,N-1$ and at most one additional power. This uses Cauchy--Binet
 in the evaluation and error determinants, where the auxiliary minors
 $D_J(0)$ are positive with derivative ratio bounded by
-$\theta_N=\frac{\sum\beta_i}{2(2N+1)}$; for large $N$ the minors remain
+$\theta_N=(\sum\beta_i)/(2(2N+1))$; for large $N$ the minors remain
 positive after translating by $a$.
 
-\emph{Laplace structure.} Write $h_j(w-a)=h_j(-a)\mathbb E e^{-wZ_j}$,
+Laplace structure. Write $h_j(w-a)=h_j(-a)\mathbb E e^{-wZ_j}$,
 where $Z_j\ge0$ is a random variable. Explicitly, the product formula
-for $D(x)=2C_L(x)-1$ (via $\cosh$-product) gives
+for $D(x)=2C_L(x)-1$ (via $cosh$-product) gives
 $D(x)\propto(x+\lambda_*^2)\prod_{k\ge2}(x+s_k)$ with
 $s_k=((2\pi k+\pi/3)/L)^2$; similarly $c_1$ and $(c_3-c_1)$ have
 product form. Hence
@@ -1271,55 +1271,55 @@ $\mathbb P(Z_j\ge t)\asymp e^{-\lambda_*^2t}$ (for $h_1$, one pairs
 each numerator factor with a distinct smaller $s_k$, splitting off
 the smallest rate by a change-of-measure uniform bound).
 
-\emph{Monotone interpolation.} Monomial residuals are monotone in
+Monotone interpolation. Monomial residuals are monotone in
 vertex powers: the $e^{tw}w^j$ coefficient matrix is totally
 nonnegative (exponential of the upper shift times $t$), so the
 old interpolant's coefficient at each node has sign $(-1)^i$; a
 single-power increase changes the residual by a sign-consistent
 amount. Reduce to the pure-exponential case:
 \[
-\mathbb E[e^{-(\lambda_*^2-a)Y}]=\prod_{i}\frac{v_i+a}{v_i+\lambda_*^2}
+\mathbb E[e^{-(\lambda_*^2-a)Y}]=\prod_{i}(v_i+a)/(v_i+\lambda_*^2)
 \]
 since $Y$ is a sum of exponential variables with rates $v_i+a$.
-\end{proof}
 
-Under the measures of \eqref{eq:nu-density}, the omitted $O(N)$
-factors in \eqref{eq:residual-bd} above $N^{3/2}$ give $e^{o(N^{-1/2})}$;
+
+Under the measures of (eq:nu-density), the omitted $O(N)$
+factors in (eq:residual-bd) above $N^{3/2}$ give $e^{o(N^{-1/2})}$;
 and the small-node probability is exponentially small. Thus
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:P-7-estimates}
+
 \nu[-e_0c_3]\gtrsim N^{-1/2},\quad
 |\nu[e_0h_i]|\le N^{-1+o(1)},\quad
 |\nu[e_{-4}h_i]|=O(1),
-\end{equation}
+
 and the tilted target
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:P-7-target}
+
 \nu_3[E_{-4}h_0]\asymp N^{-1/4}.
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{Increasing-weight comparison.}
+
+Increasing-weight comparison.: 
 
 The final size estimate on $\nu_3[-e_0c_3]$ uses monotone coupling.
 
-\begin{lemma}[Increasing-weight comparison]\label{lem:weight-comp}
-Let $\mu_b\propto dx/\cosh(b\sqrt x)$ and $\nu_b$ be the determinant
+[Increasing-weight comparison]
+Let $\mu_b\propto dx/cosh(b\sqrt x)$ and $\nu_b$ be the determinant
 density built from $\mu_b$ and the same Jacobi jet structure. The
 ratio of base measures $\mu_b/\mu$ (up to constants) is the increasing
 function
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:weight-ratio}
-\phi(x)=\frac{z(\cosh(4z)+\cosh(2z)-\cosh(3z))}{\sinh(4z)},\quad z=L\sqrt x,
-\end{equation}
+
+\phi(x)=(z(cosh(4z)+cosh(2z)-cosh(3z)))/(sinh(4z)),\quad z=L\sqrt x,
+
 with increasing series-coefficient ratios
-$\frac{2j+1}{4}(1+(1/4)^j-(9/16)^j)/1$. Therefore, for any bounded
-coordinatewise increasing function $f$ on $(0,\infty)^d$:
+$(2j+1)/(4)(1+(1/4)^j-(9/16)^j)/1$. Therefore, for any bounded
+coordinatewise increasing function $f$ on $(0,∞)^d$:
 $\nu_b[f]\le C\nu[f]$.
-\end{lemma}
 
-\begin{proof}
-A probability measure $\eta$ on $(0,\infty)^d$ is $MTP_2$ if its
+
+Proof. 
+A probability measure $\eta$ on $(0,∞)^d$ is $MTP_2$ if its
 density $w$ satisfies $w(x\wedge y)w(x\vee y)\ge w(x)w(y)$ for all
 $x,y$, with $x\wedge y$ and $x\vee y$ the coordinatewise meet and join.
 
-\emph{Step 1: both measures are $MTP_2$.} For measures whose density
+Step 1: both measures are $MTP_2$. For measures whose density
 has the determinant-product form $w=\det(F,G)\prod_i d\mu(x_i)$,
 $MTP_2$ holds whenever the base $\mu$ is $MTP_2$; the proof
 (Bogso \cite[Theorem 2.27]{Bogso2014}, following Karlin--McGregor)
@@ -1329,8 +1329,8 @@ $\log$-supermodularity of the single-variable base density. Both
 $\nu$ and $\nu_b$, built over the same jet spaces from the base
 measures $d\mu$ and $d\mu_b$, are therefore $MTP_2$.
 
-\emph{Step 2: FKG.} For an $MTP_2$ measure $\eta$ and any
-coordinatewise nondecreasing bounded $f_1,\dots,f_m$,
+Step 2: FKG. For an $MTP_2$ measure $\eta$ and any
+coordinatewise nondecreasing bounded $f_1,...,f_m$,
 $\eta[\prod_jf_j]\ge\prod_j\eta[f_j]$ (Harris). Indeed one-coordinate
 heat-bath smoothing preserves the FKG inequality: conditional
 densities of one variable given the rest have monotone likelihood
@@ -1340,7 +1340,7 @@ distribution; the common unit-quantile coupling then extends the
 inequality from indicators of increasing cylinders to all bounded
 increasing integrands.
 
-\emph{Step 3: the comparison.} From the lemma computation,
+Step 3: the comparison. From the lemma computation,
 $d\nu_b/d\nu=\prod_i\phi(x_i)$ with $\phi$ the increasing
 one-variable ratio displayed above, whose Taylor coefficients of
 $\phi\log z$ (recall $z=L\sqrt x$) are nonnegative. Thus $(\nu,
@@ -1350,22 +1350,22 @@ $\nu_b[f]\le C\nu[f]$ for bounded coordinatewise increasing $f$ and
 finite $C$ depending only on the jet structure and the density ratio.
 This is the asserted comparison; combining with Step 2 gives the
 stated constant.
-\end{proof}
+
 
 Under $\mu_b$, the interpolant of $A_m$ at 0 is a rational function
 in $w=w_m$ whose denominator has roots $w$-labels of $G_t$;
 the residual at $w=1$ is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:residual-explicit}
-\frac{1}{1+s}\prod_i\frac{1+sb_i'}{1-b_i'}\prod_i\frac{1-a_i'}{s+a_i'},
-\end{equation}
+
+(1)/(1+s)\prod_i(1+sb_i')/(1-b_i')\prod_i(1-a_i')/(s+a_i'),
+
 where $a_i',b_i'\in[0,1/3]$ are the $w$-labels of $F_0$ and $G_t$.
 This is uniformly $\gtrsim d^{-1/2}$ on $1<s<1+1/d$, giving
 $\nu_b[-e_0c_3]\gtrsim d^{-1/2}$.
 
-\paragraph{Assembly.}
+Assembly.: 
 
-Combine \eqref{eq:schur-identity}, \eqref{eq:P-7-estimates}, and
-Lemma~\ref{lem:weight-comp}. Write
+Combine (eq:schur-identity), (eq:P-7-estimates), and
+Lemma~lem:weight-comp. Write
 $A_y=\nu[e_yc_3]$, $H_{j,y}=\nu[e_yh_j]$
 ($y\in\{0,-4\}$). The constraint $\mathcal L(c_3-h_1)=0$ determines
 $s_*=-\frac{A_{-4}-H_{1,-4}}{A_0-H_{1,0}}$; the denominator is
@@ -1373,35 +1373,35 @@ nonzero for large $N$ since $|A_0|\gtrsim N^{-1/2}$ and
 $|H_{1,0}|\le N^{-1+o(1)}$.
 
 The exact form of $\mathcal L(h_0)/(4a_*)$ is then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:L-exact}
-\frac{\mathcal L(h_0)}{4a_*}
+
+(\mathcal L(h_0))/(4a_*)
 =\frac{A_0\,\nu_3[E_{-4}h_0]
 +H_{1,-4}H_{0,0}-H_{1,0}H_{0,-4}}
 {A_0-H_{1,0}}.
-\end{equation}
+
 The numerator has leading term $A_0\nu_3[E_{-4}h_0]\asymp N^{-1/4}\cdot
 N^{-1/2}=N^{-3/4}$; the remaining quotient contributes
 $O(N^{-1/2+o(1)})$, negligible. So
 $\mathcal L(h_0)/(4a_*)\asymp N^{-1/4}$, hence
 $B_N\asymp N^{-1/4}$.
 
-With this, Theorem~\ref{thm:finite-bridges} items \eqref{eq:bridge-mass}
+With this, Theorem~thm:finite-bridges items (eq:bridge-mass)
 are proved. The remaining items (first-moment and long-bridge) are
-deferred to Section~\ref{sec:sewing}, where the two-mark estimate is
+deferred to Section~sec:sewing, where the two-mark estimate is
 applied.
 
 
 
-\paragraph{The periodic vacuum and its physical pairing.}\label{c6:periodic-polynomial}
+The periodic vacuum and its physical pairing.: 
 
 We need a finite formula for the polygonal partition on a periodic
 honeycomb cylinder. The formula expresses that partition as a ratio
 $G_N(v)/(2f_N(v)^2)$ of two explicit trigonometric polynomials,
-evaluated at homogeneous spectral variables $v_1=\cdots=v_N=0$. The
+evaluated at homogeneous spectral variables $v_1=...=v_N=0$. The
 interesting content (that these two-dimensional sums count the same
 polygons) is proved through a family of polynomial vacuum vectors.
 
-\paragraph{The cylinder and the finite formula.}
+The cylinder and the finite formula.: 
 
 Take the lozenge-cylinder of period $N$. Put corners $A,B$ of tiles
 on a common horizontal line, $A$ just before column $1$ and $B$ just
@@ -1410,117 +1410,117 @@ finitely many disjoint simple polygons in the cylinder, each with
 weight $\kappa^{\rm length}$ and a factor $y+y^{-1}$. Every polygon
 in a system separates $A$ from $B$; the empty system is included.
 
-Introduce spectral variables $v_1,\dots,v_N$, one per column. Put
+Introduce spectral variables $v_1,...,v_N$, one per column. Put
 $C=2-\sqrt2=4\cos^2 b$ and
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:R_s_R_c_D}
-R_s(d)=\frac{-1}{\sin(d+L)\sin(d-L)},\quad R_c(d)=\cos^2 d,\quad
+
+R_s(d)=(-1)/(\sin(d+L)\sin(d-L)),\quad R_c(d)=\cos^2 d,\quad
 D(d)=\sin(d+2L)\sin(d-2L)\sin(d+b)\sin(d-b).
-\end{equation}
+
 Sum over site labels $\alpha_j\in\{+1,0,-1\}$, with total sum in the
-two groups $\{1,\dots,m\}$ and $\{m+1,\dots,N\}$ equal to a common $h$.
+two groups $\{1,...,m\}$ and $\{m+1,...,N\}$ equal to a common $h$.
 Weight every configuration by $y^h\prod_jc_{\alpha_j}$ with
 $c_\pm=\sqrt C$, $c_0=2$, and by the two-body factors
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:P-kernel}
-P_{\alpha\alpha'}(v_j-v_i)=\begin{cases}
+
+P_{\alpha\alpha'}(v_j-v_i)=
 1,&(\alpha,\alpha')\in\{(+,+),(-,-)\},\\
 H(v_j-v_i),&(\alpha,\alpha')=(0,0),\\
 H(v_j-v_i-L),&(\alpha,\alpha')\in\{(+,0),(0,-)\},\\
 H(v_j-v_i-L)H(v_j-v_i-2L),&(\alpha,\alpha')=(+,-),
-\end{cases}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 with $P_{\alpha\alpha'}(d)=P_{\alpha'\alpha}(-d)$, and with $H=R_s$
 for a same-group pair, $H=R_c$ across groups. Same-group pairs are
 additionally multiplied by $D(v_j-v_i)$. The resulting sum is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:G-def}
+
 G_N(v) = \sum_{\{\alpha_j\},\ \sum_{1}^m\alpha_j=\sum_{m+1}^N\alpha_j}
 y^{\sum\alpha_j}\prod_jc_{\alpha_j}\prod_{i<j}P_{\alpha_i\alpha_j}(v_j-v_i).
-\end{equation}
+
 
 The denominator is a Pfaffian. Put
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:B-h-def}
-B(u)=\frac{\sin(u+b)\sin(u-b)}{\sin u},\qquad h(u)=\frac{\cos u}{B(u)}.
-\end{equation}
+
+B(u)=(\sin(u+b)\sin(u-b))/(\sin u),\qquad h(u)=(\cos u)/(B(u)).
+
 Let $\mathsf h_N$ be the skew matrix with upper entries
 $(\mathsf h_N)_{jk}=h(v_k-v_j)$, $j<k$; for odd $N$ append a last
 column of ones and a row of minus ones with bottom-right entry $0$.
 Set $a_{2l}=2^l/\sqrt 2$, $a_{2l+1}=(-2)^l$, and
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:f_N}
-f_N(v)=a_N\prod_{j<k}B(v_k-v_j)\,\mathrm{Pf}\,\mathsf h_N.
-\end{equation}
+
+f_N(v)=a_N\prod_{j<k}B(v_k-v_j)\,Pf\,\mathsf h_N.
+
 Explicitly, $f_0=1/\sqrt2$ and $f_1=1$, and for even size
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:f-even}
+
 2f_{2m'}^2=4^{m'}\prod_{i<j}B(v_j-v_i)^2\,\det[h(v_j-v_i)]_{i,j=1}^{2m'}.
-\end{equation}
-The apparent singularities in~\eqref{eq:f_N} are removable
-(Lemma~\ref{lem:poly-vacuum} below); $f_N$ is a trigonometric polynomial.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Homogeneous physical pairing]\label{prop:physical-pairing}
+The apparent singularities in~(eq:f_N) are removable
+(Lemma~lem:poly-vacuum below); $f_N$ is a trigonometric polynomial.
+
+[Homogeneous physical pairing]
 For $y>0$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:physical-pairing}
-\mathcal Z_N(y)=\left.\frac{G_N(v)}{2f_N(v)^2}\right|_{v_1=\cdots=v_N=0}.
-\end{equation}
+
+\mathcal Z_N(y)=\left.(G_N(v))/(2f_N(v)^2)|_{v_1=...=v_N=0}.
+
 The denominator is nonzero there, and the identity holds also as a
 Laurent-polynomial identity in $y$.
-\end{proposition}
+
 
 The proof is by polynomial interpolation: the right-hand side is
 identified with the physical polygon partition through a finite
 family of fusion conditions.
 
-\paragraph{Periodic eigenlines.}
+Periodic eigenlines.: 
 
 Let $K(\xi)_{pp}=\xi^p$ denote the spin twist ($p\in\{+1,0,-1\}$)
 and $T_\xi(t)$ the single-row transfer matrix
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:T-xi-def}
-T_\xi(t)=\mathrm{Tr}_a\,K_a(\xi)R_{a1}(t+v_1)\cdots R_{aN}(t+v_N),
-\qquad\xi=i\ \text{or }-i,
-\end{equation}
+
+T_\xi(t)=Tr_a\,K_a(\xi)R_{a1}(t+v_1)... R_{aN}(t+v_N),
+\qquad\xi=i\ or -i,
+
 acting on total-spin-zero site states. The empty site vector is
-denoted $\varnothing$; site order is site 1 first even though operator
+denoted $∅$; site order is site 1 first even though operator
 action is from the right.
 
-\begin{lemma}[Polynomial vacuum]\label{lem:poly-vacuum}
+[Polynomial vacuum]
 For $N\ge1$ and generic $(v_j)$, $T_i(t)$ has a simple common eigenline
 with eigenvalue $1$. Its normalized eigenvector $w^i$ has
-$w^i_\varnothing=1$, and $\Psi_N:=f_Nw^i$ (with $\Psi_0=1/\sqrt 2$)
+$w^i_∅=1$, and $\Psi_N:=f_Nw^i$ (with $\Psi_0=1/\sqrt 2$)
 is a trigonometric polynomial of degree $\le N-1$ in each $v_j$,
 with the following properties:
-\begin{enumerate}
-\item\emph{Parity.} On a component with site spin $p_j$, $\Psi_N$ is
+
+\itemParity. On a component with site spin $p_j$, $\Psi_N$ is
 $(-1)^{N-1+p_j}$-parity in $v_j\mapsto v_j+\pi$.
-\item\emph{Fusion.} With remaining list $U$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:psi-fusion-2L}
+\itemFusion. With remaining list $U$,
+
 \Psi_N(u,u+2L,U)=\prod_{z\in U}\cos(z-u-L)\cdot W_{12}\Psi_{N-1}(u+L,U),
-\end{equation}
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:psi-fusion-b}
-\Psi_N(u,u+b,U)=2\cos b\prod_{z\in U}\cos(z-u-L)\cos(z-u-2L)\cdot\Omega_{12}\Psi_{N-2}(U).
-\end{equation}
-\item\emph{Infinity.} As $|v_N|\to i\infty$,
-$\Psi_N(v)/\prod_{j<N}\cos(v_N-v_j)\to\sqrt2\Psi_{N-1}(v_1,\dots,v_{N-1})\otimes|0\rangle_N$.
-\item\emph{Wheel zero.} $\Psi_N$ vanishes at the wheel
+
+
+\Psi_N(u,u+b,U)=2\cos b\prod_{z\in U}\cos(z-u-L)\cos(z-u-2L)\cdotΩ_{12}\Psi_{N-2}(U).
+
+\itemInfinity. As $|v_N|\to i∞$,
+$\Psi_N(v)/\prod_{j<N}\cos(v_N-v_j)\to\sqrt2\Psi_{N-1}(v_1,...,v_{N-1}) ⊗ |0>_N$.
+\itemWheel zero. $\Psi_N$ vanishes at the wheel
 $(v_1,v_2,v_3)=(u,u+2L,u+5L)$ (order $\ge1$; order $\ge2$ for twist $-i$).
-\end{enumerate}
-\end{lemma}
 
-\begin{proof}[Proof sketch]
-\emph{Eigenvalue and simplicity.} Let $T_j=T_\xi(-v_p+jL)$ at any site $p$.
+
+
+Proof. [Proof sketch]
+Eigenvalue and simplicity. Let $T_j=T_\xi(-v_p+jL)$ at any site $p$.
 Yang--Baxter and spin conservation give
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:fusion-T}
+
 T_0T_2=T_1,\quad T_0T_3=I,\quad T_1T_3=T_2.
-\end{equation}
+
 (Check by applying $R_{2p}(0)R_{1p}(2L)=I$ on the image of $W$.)
-Any finite product at common twist has $\varnothing,\varnothing$ entry
-$1$ (loop cancellation, as in Section~\ref{sec:strip-physical}).
+Any finite product at common twist has $∅,∅$ entry
+$1$ (loop cancellation, as in Section~sec:strip-physical).
 Judicious imaginary-limit sampling reduces the simplicity on total spin
 zero to a base case $N=1$.
 
-\emph{Vector normalization.} We set $w^\xi=P^\xi|\varnothing\rangle$,
-$\ell^\xi=\langle\varnothing|P^\xi$, both rational with empty entry $1$,
+Vector normalization. We set $w^\xi=P^\xi|∅>$,
+$\ell^\xi=<∅|P^\xi$, both rational with empty entry $1$,
 and related by crossing $\ell^\xi(v)=w^{\xi^{-1}}(-v)^T$. Exchange and
-fusion of $w$ follow as in Section~\ref{sec:strip-physical}: at
+fusion of $w$ follow as in Section~sec:strip-physical: at
 $v_q-v_p\in\{0,2L,b\}$, the local $R_{pq}$ and its fusions act as stated.
 
-\emph{Degree bound.} For each row $T_\xi(t)$ on the vacuum line,
+Degree bound. For each row $T_\xi(t)$ on the vacuum line,
 Fourier-Laurent expansion gives
 \[
 T_\xi(t)=I+\sum_k[A_k\cot(t+v_k+2L)+B'_k\cot(t+v_k+3L)],
@@ -1532,58 +1532,58 @@ $\mathcal A_{p,1}=c_1-c_2+c_3+X_1c_3$. Collecting into operator
 matrix $\mathcal A$, one has
 $\det\mathcal A=(\det H_{\mathcal A})P^\xi$, where $H_{\mathcal A}$
 is the cotangent kernel $r(u)=\cot(u+3L)-\cot(u+4L)+\cot(u+5L)$.
-The scalar Pfaffian $J_N=\mathrm{Pf}(H_{\mathcal A})\prod_{j<k}p(v_k-v_j)$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:p-pfaffian}
+The scalar Pfaffian $J_N=Pf(H_{\mathcal A})\prod_{j<k}p(v_k-v_j)$,
+
 p(u)=\frac{\sin(u+2L)\sin(u-2L)\cos u\ [\sin(u+b)\sin(u-b)]^2}
 {\sin^2u\,\sin(u+L)\sin(u-L)},
-\end{equation}
+
 is a polynomial of trigonometric degree $\le 3(N-1)$ per variable.
 Next, the two-site computation
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:J-2-sites}
-J_2=\cos u\,[S t_*-(t_*^2/2)\cos 2u],\qquad t_*=-\frac{1}{1+S},
-\end{equation}
+
+J_2=\cos u\,[S t_*-(t_*^2/2)\cos 2u],\qquad t_*=-(1)/(1+S),
+
 identifies three simple roots modulo $\pi$: one real at $u\equiv\pi/2$,
 and two complex from $\cos 2u=-1-\sqrt2$. This gives generic simplicity
 at $v_j-v_k\in\{L,2L\}$. Combining with
-fusion via $W$ and $\Omega$, the total pole degree of $P^\xi$ is
+fusion via $W$ and $Ω$, the total pole degree of $P^\xi$ is
 bounded by $3(N-1)$, hence $d_N^i+d_N^{-i}\le 3(N-1)$.
 
-\emph{Wheel zeros.} Consider $\Psi$ at $(v_1,v_2,v_3)=(u,u+2L,u+5L)$
+Wheel zeros. Consider $\Psi$ at $(v_1,v_2,v_3)=(u,u+2L,u+5L)$
 in the order $1,2,3$ with remaining list $Y$. Perturbing
-$v_2=u+2L+z$, $v_3=u+5L+z'$ and using~\eqref{eq:psi-fusion-2L}:
-at $z=0$, $\Psi\in\mathrm{im}(W_{12})$; on $z'=z$ and $z'=0$ we get
-specific columns $b_0,c_0$ proportional to $\Omega_{23}$ and to
-$K_3 J^{\rm spin}_1 \Omega_{31}$ (composed with site-3 factors). The
-column is in $\mathrm{im}(W_{12})$ only at specific spin coefficient
+$v_2=u+2L+z$, $v_3=u+5L+z'$ and using~(eq:psi-fusion-2L):
+at $z=0$, $\Psi\inim(W_{12})$; on $z'=z$ and $z'=0$ we get
+specific columns $b_0,c_0$ proportional to $Ω_{23}$ and to
+$K_3 J^{\rm spin}_1 Ω_{31}$ (composed with site-3 factors). The
+column is in $im(W_{12})$ only at specific spin coefficient
 identities; matching at spin $\pm1$ then at spin $0$ forces both
 $\gamma,\alpha=0$ (for $\xi=-i$), giving vanishing of order $\ge2$.
 
-\emph{The Pfaffian normalization.} The candidate $f_N$ of
-\eqref{eq:f_N} also satisfies the fusions~\eqref{eq:psi-fusion-2L},
-\eqref{eq:psi-fusion-b} (using $B(d)B(d-b)=-\cos(d-L)\cos(d-2L)$ and
+The Pfaffian normalization. The candidate $f_N$ of
+(eq:f_N) also satisfies the fusions~(eq:psi-fusion-2L),
+(eq:psi-fusion-b) (using $B(d)B(d-b)=-\cos(d-L)\cos(d-2L)$ and
 induction on $N$) and has the required degree, parity and symmetry.
 The base cases $f_0,f_1,f_2$ match by direct computation. A polynomial
 of degree $\le N-1$ with fixed parity and $2(N-1)$ prescribed values
-modulo $\pi$ is unique, giving $f_N=\Psi_N^\varnothing$.
+modulo $\pi$ is unique, giving $f_N=\Psi_N^∅$.
 
 The remaining claims on $\Psi_N$ (degree control, parity) follow from
 the fusion and normalized-vector structure.
-\end{proof}
+
 
 The equality of the exact degree to $3(N-1)$ is then obtained from
-divergence at $v_2-v_1\in\{b\}$ in the double fusion~\eqref{eq:psi-fusion-b}:
+divergence at $v_2-v_1\in\{b\}$ in the double fusion~(eq:psi-fusion-b):
 the wheel factor there forces $d_N^i\ge N-1$ and $d_N^{-i}\ge 2(N-1)$.
-Matching \eqref{eq:f_N} gives the exact scalar fusion identities
-\begin{align}
-\Psi_N(u,u+2L,U) &= c_1\prod_{z\in U}\cos(z-u-L)\cdot W_{12}\Psi_{N-1}(u+L,U),\label{eq:exact-fusion-2L}\\
-\Psi_N(u,u+b,U) &= c_2\prod_{z\in U}\cos(z-u-L)\cos(z-u-2L)\cdot\Omega_{12}\Psi_{N-2}(U),\label{eq:exact-fusion-b}
-\end{align}
+Matching (eq:f_N) gives the exact scalar fusion identities
+
+\Psi_N(u,u+2L,U) &= c_1\prod_{z\in U}\cos(z-u-L)\cdot W_{12}\Psi_{N-1}(u+L,U),\\
+\Psi_N(u,u+b,U) &= c_2\prod_{z\in U}\cos(z-u-L)\cos(z-u-2L)\cdotΩ_{12}\Psi_{N-2}(U),
+
 with $c_1=1$ (after normalization) and $c_2=2\cos b$
 (cross-checked at $N=2,3$ and by induction).
 
-\paragraph{The physical contraction.}
+The physical contraction.: 
 
-\begin{proof}[Proof of Proposition~\ref{prop:physical-pairing}]
+Proof. [Proof of Proposition~prop:physical-pairing]
 Define
 $Z(v)=\ell^{-i}(v)(\prod_{j\le m}K_j(\delta))w^i(v)$,
 with $\delta=i y$. Then $U=2f_N^2Z$ is a trigonometric polynomial
@@ -1591,21 +1591,21 @@ of degrees $\le 2(N-1)$ in each variable, $\pi$-periodic by spin-sign
 covariance, and separately symmetric in the two groups (spin
 conservation plus exchange).
 
-Both $U$ and $G_N$ (from~\eqref{eq:G-def}) share:
-\begin{itemize}
+Both $U$ and $G_N$ (from~(eq:G-def)) share:
+
 \item separate symmetry in the two groups,
 \item $\pi$-periodicity in each $v_j$,
 \item exact fusion to the smaller list at fused rapidities
 $(v_{j+1}-v_j)\in\{0,\pm2L,\pm b\}$ (with normalizations from $f_N$),
-\item growth behavior at imaginary infinity by~\eqref{eq:psi-fusion-b},
+\item growth behavior at imaginary infinity by~(eq:psi-fusion-b),
 \item initial conditions $G_{N=0}=1$, $G_{N=1}=1$ (identical to $U$).
-\end{itemize}
+
 By induction on $N$, $G_N=U$. Indeed, the difference $G_N-U$ has zero
 degree after dividing by the fusion-denominator product and vanishes
 at each step. The base cases $N=0,1$ match.
 
-Evaluating at $v_1=\cdots=v_N=0$ with the sandwiched $K_j(\delta)$'s:
-\begin{enumerate}
+Evaluating at $v_1=...=v_N=0$ with the sandwiched $K_j(\delta)$'s:
+
 \item $\mathcal Z_N$ at homogeneous $v$ has a natural expansion as an
 oriented sum over polygon systems; the contractible and essential
 sectors get phases $i$ and $\pm i$ (reversing conjugates), and the
@@ -1615,212 +1615,212 @@ orientation inverts the factor, so a polygon contributes $0$ unless
 $A,B$ are separated, giving weight $y+y^{-1}$ exactly.
 \item The tile weights in $G_N$ without phases are honeycomb path
 weights.
-\item The empty system gives $1$, matching $(\varnothing,\varnothing)$
+\item The empty system gives $1$, matching $(∅,∅)$
 entry.
-\end{enumerate}
+
 For positive $y$, exhaustion proves $\mathcal Z_N=G_N/(2f_N^2)|_{v=0}$,
 and the equality extends to a Laurent polynomial identity.
-\end{proof}
 
 
 
-\paragraph{The two-line gas expansion.}\label{c6:gas}
 
-Section~\ref{c6:periodic-polynomial} expressed the physical cylinder
+The two-line gas expansion.: 
+
+Section~c6:periodic-polynomial expressed the physical cylinder
 partition as a finite trigonometric ratio. We now expand that ratio as
-a grand-canonical sum over \emph{particles}, and control the sum by a
+a grand-canonical sum over particles, and control the sum by a
 coercivity bound on the kernel. The output is a rigorous upper bound
-on $\log|P_m|$ (Proposition~\ref{prop:gas-upper}) which
-Section~\ref{c6:subheading-09} saturates.
+on $\log|P_m|$ (Proposition~prop:gas-upper) which
+Section~c6:subheading-09 saturates.
 
-\paragraph{Normalization and the target.}
+Normalization and the target.: 
 
 Put
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:P-m-normalized}
+
 P_m(e^r)=\frac{G(e^r)}{C^mD(0)^{m(m-1)}}.
-\end{equation}
-With $L=\pi/8$, $b=3L$, $C=2-\sqrt2$, $\widehat\rho(p)=1/(2\cosh Lp-1)$,
+
+With $L=\pi/8$, $b=3L$, $C=2-\sqrt2$, $\widehat\rho(p)=1/(2cosh Lp-1)$,
 and $V(s)$ the real log of $R_s(is)R_c(is)$ for
 $R_s(z)=-1/[\sin(z-L)\sin(z+L)]$, $R_c(z)=\cos^2z$, put
 $I=\int_{\mathbb R}V(s)\rho(s)\,ds$.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Homogeneous gas upper bound]\label{prop:gas-upper}
-As $m\to\infty$, locally uniformly in $|\Im r|<.54\pi$:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:gas-upper}
-\log|P_m(e^r)|\le m^2I+\left(\frac38+\frac{2}{3\pi^2}\Re r^2\right)\log m+o(\log m).
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
+[Homogeneous gas upper bound]
+As $m\to∞$, locally uniformly in $|\Im r|<.54\pi$:
+
+\log|P_m(e^r)|\le m^2I+(\frac38+(2)/(3\pi^2)\Re r^2)\log m+o(\log m).
+
+
 
-\paragraph{Residue particles.}
+Residue particles.: 
 
 Each lowering of a site label in the finite double-pole formula
 produces one or two residue particles. A particle $d$ carries a color
 sign $q_d\in\{\pm1\}$, a species, a contour, and a real position $s_d$.
 
 The elementary mode potential is $e^{mV(w)}$, and the pair weights are
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:pair-weight}
+
 t_{gh}(w)=\frac{R_{gh}(iw)}{R_{gh}(iw+L)R_{gh}(iw-L)},
-\end{equation}
+
 with measure $\tau dz/(2\pi i)$ and $\tau=2\sin(2L)/\sqrt C$.
 
-After periodization (replacing each $\sinh(w+ijL)$ by
-$\frac12S_T(w+ijL)$ with $S_T(w)=2\sinh w\prod_{n\ge1}(1-e^{-2nT+2w})
+After periodization (replacing each $sinh(w+ijL)$ by
+$\frac12S_T(w+ijL)$ with $S_T(w)=2sinh w\prod_{n\ge1}(1-e^{-2nT+2w})
 (1-e^{-2nT-2w})$, and multiplying the integrand by
 $\sum_le^{-2Tl^2+4l\sum q_jw_j}$) we obtain a $T$-periodic
 $P_{m,T}(e^r)$, agreeing with $P_m(e^r)$ at $e^{-2T}=0$. We work on
 $P_{m,T}$ and return by maximum modulus in the nome $e^{-T}$.
 
-\paragraph{Species and offsets.}
+Species and offsets.: 
 
 After contour manipulation and fusion, five species remain in each
 color. Their weights $w_i$ (exponent of $y$), offsets $\delta_i$
 (multiples of $L$), and chemical activities $\sigma_i$ are:
-\begin{center}
-\begin{tabular}{c|ccccc}
+
+{c|ccccc}
 $i$ & $0$ & $1$ & $2$ & $3$ & $4$ \\
 \hline
 label & $S$ & $D$ & $I_+'$ & $I_-'$ & $F$ \\
 $w_i$ & $1$ & $1$ & $-1$ & $1$ & $2$ \\
 $12\delta_i$ & $6$ & $1$ & $5$ & $-3$ & $-1$ \\
 $\sigma_i$ & $0$ & $1$ & $1$ & $-1$ & $0$
-\end{tabular}
-\end{center}
+
+
 The neutral-winding constraint on total particle counts is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:winding-neutrality}
+
 \sum_{g\in\{c,-\}}\sum_{i=1}^5w_i\nu_{g,i}=0.
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{The interaction kernel.}
+
+The interaction kernel.: 
 
 The particle kernel for two particles at real frequency $p$ is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Z-def}
-Z^{(c)}_{ij}(p)=\frac{2\pi}{p}e^{(\delta_i-\delta_j)Lp}F^{(c)}_{ij}(e^{Lp}),
-\end{equation}
+
+Z^{(c)}_{ij}(p)=(2\pi)/(p)e^{(\delta_i-\delta_j)Lp}F^{(c)}_{ij}(e^{Lp}),
+
 with $F^{(c)}_{ij}(z)$ expressed through an auxiliary function $H(a;\sigma)$
 that sums residues on the unit circle:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:H-aux}
-H(a;\sigma)(z)=\sum_{j=0}^7h_j\frac{z^{[a+j]_8}}{z^8-1}+\frac{1-\sigma}{2}h_{[-a]_8},
+
+H(a;\sigma)(z)=\sum_{j=0}^7h_j\frac{z^{[a+j]_8}}{z^8-1}+(1-\sigma)/(2)h_{[-a]_8},
 \quad h=(2,-1,1,-2c,2c,-2c,1,-1).
-\end{equation}
+
 Let $H_*=H(0;0)$, $A_0=\sum_{a\in(2)}H(a;1)$, $A_1=\sum_{a\in(2,3)}H(a;-1)$,
 $A_2=1$, $A_3=-1$, $A_4=A_1+A_3$. For $0\le i,j<4$, set
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:F-ij}
+
 F^{(c)}_{ij}(z)=P_{ij}(z)+\frac{A_i(z)A_j(z^{-1})}{H_*(z)}
-+(-1+2c)\operatorname{sgn}(i-j){\mathbf 1}_{\{i,j\}=\{1,3\}},
-\end{equation}
++(-1+2c)sgn(i-j){\mathbf 1}_{\{i,j\}=\{1,3\}},
+
 $F_{i4}=F_{i1}+F_{i3}+{\mathbf 1}_{i=3}-{\mathbf 1}_{i=1}$,
 $F_{4i}(z)=-F_{i4}(z^{-1})$, $F_{44}=F_{11}+F_{13}+F_{31}+F_{33}$,
 where $P_{ij}$ collects lower-derivative residue rules
-$P_{ij}(z)=\sum_{a\in b_i,k\in b_j}H(a-k;\operatorname{sgn}(j-i))$ for $i,j<2$
-and $\operatorname{sgn}(j-i)$ for $i,j\ge2$, and $0$ otherwise.
+$P_{ij}(z)=\sum_{a\in b_i,k\in b_j}H(a-k;sgn(j-i))$ for $i,j<2$
+and $sgn(j-i)$ for $i,j\ge2$, and $0$ otherwise.
 
 On the two $R$-lines (before fusion), the matrix symbol has a clean form.
-Let $K=K_{RR}$ and $\widehat\rho(p)=1/(2\cosh Lp-1)$; then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:K-R-est}
+Let $K=K_{RR}$ and $\widehat\rho(p)=1/(2cosh Lp-1)$; then
+
 K=(1-e(p))K_0,\quad
-e(p)=\frac{\sinh(3Lp)-\sinh(2Lp)}{\sinh(4Lp)}\in(0,1),
-\end{equation}
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:K-0}
-K_0=\frac{2\pi}{p}\begin{pmatrix}\coth(bp)&-\operatorname{csch}(bp)\\
--\operatorname{csch}(bp)&\coth(bp)\end{pmatrix},\quad V_R=K{\mathbf 1}\widehat\rho.
-\end{equation}
+e(p)=(sinh(3Lp)-sinh(2Lp))/(sinh(4Lp))\in(0,1),
+
+
+K_0=(2\pi)/(p)\coth(bp)&-csch(bp)\\
+-csch(bp)&\coth(bp),\quad V_R=K{\mathbf 1}\widehat\rho.
+
 (Here $V_R$ denotes the potential contribution.)
 
-\paragraph{Coercivity.}
+Coercivity.: 
 
 The key analytic input is a positive-definite bound on $Z$.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Coercivity]\label{prop:coercivity}
+[Coercivity]
 Put $h_*=3\pi b/4$ and $\alpha=2\pi^2/h_*$, and let $W=(w,w)^t$ be the
 weight column. Then for every real $p\ne0$ there is $\eta>0$ with
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Z-coercive}
-Z_{\rm s}(p)\succcurlyeq\frac{\eta\alpha}{p^2}WW^t+\epsilon_0(1+p^2)^{-1}{\bf I},
-\end{equation}
-for some $\epsilon_0>0$ independent of $T$ and $m$, where $Z_s=(Z+Z^t)/2$.
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+Z_{\rm s}(p)\succcurlyeq(\eta\alpha)/(p^2)WW^t+ε_0(1+p^2)^{-1}{\bf I},
+
+for some $ε_0>0$ independent of $T$ and $m$, where $Z_s=(Z+Z^t)/2$.
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 On each $R$-line, $K=(1-e(p))K_0$ with $e(p)\in(0,1)$ and $K_0$
 positive definite for $p\ne0$. The leading behavior at small $p$ is
-$K_0\sim2\pi/(p)(\coth bp{\bf I}-\operatorname{csch}bp\,P)$ where
+$K_0\sim2\pi/(p)(\coth bp{\bf I}-cschbp\,P)$ where
 $P$ is the color-swap permutation matrix; the eigen-decomposition is
 common and gives the $WW^t/p^2$ leading term. Away from $p=0$, the
-residual is bounded below by $\epsilon_0(1+p^2)^{-1}{\bf I}$ after
+residual is bounded below by $ε_0(1+p^2)^{-1}{\bf I}$ after
 partial-fraction expansion of the explicit $F$-rules.
-\end{proof}
 
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Z-small-p}
+
+
 Z(p)=\alpha WW^t/p^2+M_*/p+O(1)\quad(p\to0),
-\quad M_*\text{ real skew}.
-\end{equation}
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Z-large-p}
-Z(p)=\frac{2\pi}{|p|}{\mathbf I}+2ff^t+O(e^{-\epsilon|p|})\quad(|p|\to\infty),\quad f={\mathbf e}_4.
-\end{equation}
+\quad M_* real skew.
+
+
+Z(p)=(2\pi)/(|p|){\mathbf I}+2ff^t+O(e^{-ε|p|})\quad(|p|\to∞),\quad f={\mathbf e}_4.
 
-\paragraph{The grand sum.}
 
-\begin{theorem}[Grand sum]\label{thm:grand-sum}
+The grand sum.: 
+
+[Grand sum]
 For every integer $m\ge1$ and every sufficiently large real $T$,
 $P_{m,T}(e^r)$ equals
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:grand-sum}
-\sum_{\{\nu_{g,i}:\,(\ref{eq:winding-neutrality})\}}
+
+\sum_{\{\nu_{g,i}:\,(eq:winding-neutrality)\}}
 \frac{1}{\prod_{g,i}\nu_{g,i}!}
 \,e^{c\cdot 2\pi iTr\,\sigma^t\nu/(4h_*)-S_{\rm bulk}(T)-S_{\rm gas}[\nu;r]},
-\end{equation}
+
 with:
-\begin{itemize}
-\item $S_{\rm bulk}(T)=\frac{1}{2T}\sum_{p\ne0}\widehat J^tK(p)\widehat J\,\widehat\rho(p)^2
--\frac{1}{2}(T/3-2\log2)(M_A-M_B)^2$,
+
+\item $S_{\rm bulk}(T)=(1)/(2T)\sum_{p\ne0}\widehat J^tK(p)\widehat J\,\widehat\rho(p)^2
+-(1)/(2)(T/3-2\log2)(M_A-M_B)^2$,
 a real quadratic form;
-\item $S_{\rm gas}[\nu;r]=-\frac{1}{2T}\sum_{p\ne0}\sum_{d,e}Z_{g_de_d}(p)e^{-ip(s_d-s_e)}-\frac{1}{T}\sum_{\text{linear}}\dots$,
+\item $S_{\rm gas}[\nu;r]=-(1)/(2T)\sum_{p\ne0}\sum_{d,e}Z_{g_de_d}(p)e^{-ip(s_d-s_e)}-(1)/(T)\sum_{linear}...$,
 the pairwise and single-particle interactions against real positions
 $s_d\in(-T/2,T/2)$;
-\item $\varepsilon_\nu\in\{\pm1\}$ is a fixed phase depending only on the multiplicity pattern;
+\item $ε_\nu\in\{\pm1\}$ is a fixed phase depending only on the multiplicity pattern;
 \item $c$ is a fixed scalar.
-\end{itemize}
+
 The sum and integral converge absolutely, and the sum localizes on
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:gas-localization}
-\max_d|\Re s_d|\lesssim\log m+\text{const}.
-\end{equation}
-\end{theorem}
 
-\paragraph{Convergence and localization.}
+\max_d|\Re s_d|\lesssim\log m+const.
+
+
+
+Convergence and localization.: 
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
-Proposition~\ref{prop:coercivity} bounds the off-diagonal $Z_s$ terms
+Proof. [Sketch]
+Proposition~prop:coercivity bounds the off-diagonal $Z_s$ terms
 from below by a positive quadratic form. After regularizing the diagonal,
 the sum over $\nu_{g,i}$ is bounded by a geometric series in
 $\sum_{g,i}\nu_{g,i}$ weighted by a Gaussian-decaying kernel in the
-positions $s_d$ and a bounded activity from the chemical potential. For any configuration with a particle at $|\Re s_d|>\log m+\text{const}$,
+positions $s_d$ and a bounded activity from the chemical potential. For any configuration with a particle at $|\Re s_d|>\log m+const$,
 the one-particle suppression from $S_{\rm bulk}$ dominates the local
-gain, and the sum over such configurations is at most $e^{-\epsilon m}$.
+gain, and the sum over such configurations is at most $e^{-ε m}$.
 Consequently the whole sum is dominated by the localized region
-\eqref{eq:gas-localization}.
-\end{proof}
+(eq:gas-localization).
 
 
 
-\paragraph{Saturation at the two physical parameters.}\label{c6:saturation}
+
+Saturation at the two physical parameters.: 
 
 We have the upper bound $\log|P_m(e^r)|\le m^2I+(3/8+2\Re(r^2)/(3\pi^2))
-\log m+o(\log m)$ for $|\Im r|<.54\pi$ (Proposition~\ref{prop:gas-upper}),
+\log m+o(\log m)$ for $|\Im r|<.54\pi$ (Proposition~prop:gas-upper),
 plus an exact evaluation of $P_m(i)$ via a determinant at the "empty
 polygon" value. We now show both bounds are sharp and take their ratio.
 
-\paragraph{The saturation statement.}
+The saturation statement.: 
+
+[Saturation at $y=1$ and $y=i$]
 
-\begin{auxproposition}[Saturation at $y=1$ and $y=i$]\label{prop:saturation}
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:saturation-aux}
 \log P_m(1)=Im^2+\frac38\log m+o(\log m),\qquad
 \log P_m(i)=Im^2+\frac5{24}\log m+o(\log m).
-\end{equation}
+
 Equivalently, the nesting ratio satisfies
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:nesting-ratio}
-\mathcal Z_{m,m}(1)=\frac{P_m(1)}{P_m(i)}=m^{1/6+o(1)}.
-\end{equation}
-\end{auxproposition}
 
-\paragraph{The reference determinant at $y=i$.}
+\mathcal Z_{m,m}(1)=(P_m(1))/(P_m(i))=m^{1/6+o(1)}.
+
+
+
+The reference determinant at $y=i$.: 
 
 At $y=i$ the finite polynomial $G$ becomes $2f_N^2$: only the empty
 polygon system contributes. In its determinantal expression replace
@@ -1828,9 +1828,9 @@ the kernel $h(d)=(\cot(d+b)+\cot(d-b))/2$ by
 $h_0(d)=-\lambda\tan(\lambda d)/2$, $\lambda=\pi/(2b)=4/3$. The
 normalized homogeneous value of this modified partition evaluates
 exactly, by Schur's Pfaffian identity, to
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:reference-det}
+
 P_0^{(\lambda)}=\big[\lambda^4\sin^8(b)/D(0)\big]^{m^2}=e^{Im^2}.
-\end{equation}
+
 Indeed, Schur's Pfaffian of $G_{jk}=(X_j-X_k)/(X_j+X_k)$ with
 $X_j=e^{2i\lambda v_j}$ equals $\prod_{i<j}(X_i-X_j)^2/
 \prod(X_i+X_j)^2$ (clearing denominators, both sides alternate with
@@ -1840,51 +1840,51 @@ $D(0)=C\sin^4b$.
 
 We are reduced to bounding the ratio $P_m(i)/P_0^{(\lambda)}$.
 
-\paragraph{Bounding the ratio at $y=i$.}
+Bounding the ratio at $y=i$.: 
 
 Write $P_m(i)/P_0^{(\lambda)}$ as the product over $m$ "duplicate
 pairs" $v_p,v_p+L$ of the linear-perturbation ratios
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:duplicate-ratio}
-\prod_{k=1}^m\frac{\det(1+\Delta_k)}{\det(1)},
-\end{equation}
+
+\prod_{k=1}^m(\det(1+\Delta_k))/(\det(1)),
+
 where $\Delta_k$ is the rank-one modification between the $h$ and $h_0$
 kernels restricted to the $k$-th pair.
 
-\emph{Weyl chamber decomposition.} Decompose the integration domain by
-the partition of $\{1,\dots,m\}$ into the subsets $\Omega^A$, where $A$
+Weyl chamber decomposition. Decompose the integration domain by
+the partition of $\{1,...,m\}$ into the subsets $Ω^A$, where $A$
 is the unique subset containing the up-to-relabeling largest $|z_j|$.
-On each $\Omega^A$, moving the rapidities with $j\in A$ to imaginary
+On each $Ω^A$, moving the rapidities with $j\in A$ to imaginary
 infinity is pole-free within the chamber, and the two kernels (for $h$
 and $h_0$) differ by a bounded factor with a Sobolev/$L_p$ estimate
 from the linear-differential operator computation.
 
 For each $k$, one gets uniformly
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:weyl-bound}
-\big|\det(1+\Delta_k)\big|\le e^{-\epsilon\,\mathrm{dist}(A_k,
-\partial\mathrm{chamber})}.
-\end{equation}
+
+\big|\det(1+\Delta_k)\big|\le e^{-ε\,dist(A_k,
+∂chamber)}.
+
 Summing chambers and applying maximum modulus:
 
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:log-modulus-total}
+
 \log\big|P_m(i)/P_0^{(\lambda)}\big|\le\frac5{24}\log m+O(1).
-\end{equation}
+
 
 Matching lower bound: restrict to configurations with all duplicates
 within bounded distance of center, on which $\det(1+\Delta_k)=1-o(1)$.
 This gives $|P_m(i)/P_0^{(\lambda)}|\ge m^{5/24-o(1)}$, hence
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:P-m-i-final}
+
 \log P_m(i)=Im^2+\frac5{24}\log m+o(\log m).
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{Propagation to $y=1$.}
+
+Propagation to $y=1$.: 
 
 Set $r=\log y$ and put
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:f-m}
-f_m(r)=\frac{\log|P_m(e^r)|-Im^2}{\log m}
--\left(\frac38+\frac{2\Re(r^2)}{3\pi^2}\right).
-\end{equation}
-From Proposition~\ref{prop:gas-upper}, $f_m\le o(1)$ locally
-uniformly in $|\Im r|<.54\pi$. From \eqref{eq:P-m-i-final} at
+
+f_m(r)=(\log|P_m(e^r)|-Im^2)/(\log m)
+-(\frac38+(2\Re(r^2))/(3\pi^2)).
+
+From Proposition~prop:gas-upper, $f_m\le o(1)$ locally
+uniformly in $|\Im r|<.54\pi$. From (eq:P-m-i-final) at
 $r=i\pi/2$ (i.e. $y=i$), $f_m(i\pi/2)\to0$.
 
 The function $f_m$ is subharmonic. Apply the subharmonic area
@@ -1892,30 +1892,30 @@ mean inequality on a finite chain of disks starting at $r=i\pi/2$ and
 reaching any compact subset of $|\Im r|<.54\pi$: the two ends of the
 chain give $f_m\to0$ in local $L^1$ throughout the strip. In
 particular at $r=0$:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:saturation-at-1}
+
 \log P_m(1)=Im^2+\frac38\log m+o(\log m).
-\end{equation}
 
-Combining \eqref{eq:P-m-i-final} and \eqref{eq:saturation-at-1}:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:nesting-ratio-concl}
+
+Combining (eq:P-m-i-final) and (eq:saturation-at-1):
+
 \mathcal Z_{m,m}(1)=P_m(1)/P_m(i)=m^{1/6+o(1)},
-\end{equation}
+
 as claimed.
-\end{proof}
 
 
 
-\paragraph{Crossings, cylinder barriers, and positive nesting.}\label{c6:geometry}
 
-Section~\ref{c6:strip-asymptotics} gave the strip-mass estimate
+Crossings, cylinder barriers, and positive nesting.: 
+
+Section~c6:strip-asymptotics gave the strip-mass estimate
 $B_k\asymp k^{-1/4}$. Here we extract (a) escape and confinement
 estimates, (b) essential-polygon formation on a cylinder, (c) positive
 polygon nesting, and (d) a boundary-occupancy identity. These are the
-geometric inputs for Section~\ref{sec:sewing}.
+geometric inputs for Section~sec:sewing.
 
 All constants are uniform in $N$, $h$, and $H$.
 
-\paragraph{The critical weight at the port convention.}
+The critical weight at the port convention.: 
 
 Adapting the Hammersley--Welsh argument to boundary-port convention
 confirms that $\kappa$ is the critical self-avoiding-walk weight at
@@ -1924,328 +1924,328 @@ the mass of weak bridges of height $k$ is at most $Ce^{-ck}$, and
 decomposition over weak half-space walks gives the susceptibility
 bounds. Constants depend only on $x$.
 
-\paragraph{Boundary crossings.}
+Boundary crossings.: 
 
-\begin{proposition}[Boundary crossings]\label{prop:crossings}
+[Boundary crossings]
 Fix a convex pure-sided tiled domain $D$ and a port $p$ on its
 boundary (including strips and half-planes by exhaustion). Then:
-\begin{enumerate}
+
 \item The critical mass of completed paths of diameter $\ge r$ is at
 most $C(1+r)^{-1/4}$.
 \item The half-plane mass $K_l$ from a base port to another at lattice
 distance $l$ is decreasing in $l$ and satisfies $K_l\asymp l^{-5/4}$.
-\end{enumerate}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
-\emph{Contour comparison.} The signed exit identity (Section~\ref{c6:strip-flux}
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
+Contour comparison. The signed exit identity (Section~c6:strip-flux
 with $\beta=3/8$) gives
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:positive-exit}
-\sum_{\gamma:p\to\partial D}\kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}
+
+\sum_{\gamma:p\to∂ D}\kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}
 \cos(\beta W(\gamma))=1,\quad c\le\cos(\beta W(\gamma))\le1.
-\end{equation}
+
 Restricting to a convex subdomain and using $c=\cos(\beta\pi)>0$ gives
 the first assertion.
 
-\emph{Triangle escape.} For a centered triangle $T(p,n_j,t)$ of width
+Triangle escape. For a centered triangle $T(p,n_j,t)$ of width
 $t$, the exit mass $S(t)$ to each sloping side is comparable to
 $(1+t)^{-1/4}$. The upper bound comes from the strip embedding; the
 lower bound from the base-return identity
 $2\cos(\beta\pi/3)S=1-cA_T$ and the diameter bound.
 
-\emph{Monotonicity.} A non-crossing identity for $K$ and an intermediate
+Monotonicity. A non-crossing identity for $K$ and an intermediate
 port between sources $a$ and $Q=P+1$ gives
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:K-monotone}
+
 (K_{P-a}-K_{Q-a})\sin(\beta\pi)=D_1\sin(2\beta\pi)\ge0,
-\end{equation}
+
 using the flux rule with an artificial arc below the base line. Combined
 with the diameter bound over a window of length $\asymp l$: $K_l\lesssim l^{-5/4}$.
 
-\emph{Deep exits.} For an exit from $T(a,n_0,t)$ through the side with
+Deep exits. For an exit from $T(a,n_0,t)$ through the side with
 outward normal $n_1$, at depth $q=n_0\cdot(p_1-a)$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:deep-exit}
-\mathop{\mathrm{average}}_{t\in[\alpha R,AR]}\sum_{q\ge\delta R}k(t,q)
+
+\mathop{average}_{t\in[\alpha R,AR]}\sum_{q\ge\delta R}k(t,q)
 \ge c_{\alpha,A,\delta}R^{-1/4},
-\end{equation}
+
 for $\delta$ small, by translating along the base to align the exit
 ports and cutting strictly before all starts.
 
-\emph{Three exits and matching lower bound.} Iterating the deep-exit
+Three exits and matching lower bound. Iterating the deep-exit
 construction at $p_1,p_2$ builds a three-exit path. Averaging over $t$
 and $R$ gives mass $\gtrsim R^{-3/4}$ of paths with $q\ge\delta R$ and
 $X\ge\eta R$, whence a second-moment bound
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:three-exit-second-moment}
+
 \mu[Y^2]\le CR^{-5/4},
-\end{equation}
+
 using the difference bridges with $B_{|t-t'|/d_0}$. Cauchy--Schwarz gives
 $\mu[Y>0]\gtrsim R^{-1/4}$ and the matching lower bound for $K_l$ by
 monotonicity.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Narrow-channel bridges.}
 
-\begin{lemma}[Narrow-channel bridges]\label{lem:narrow-channel-bridges}
+Narrow-channel bridges.: 
+
+[Narrow-channel bridges]
 For every sufficiently large absolute constant $A$, there are
 constants $C,R_0>0$ such that, for every strip of height $H$, every
 starting port on one cap, and every integer $M\ge1$ with $H/M\ge R_0$,
 the critical mass of bridges whose transverse displacement from the
 starting port stays at most $4AH/M$ throughout is at least
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:channel-bridge-mass}
+
 e^{-CM}(H/M)^{-1/4}.
-\end{equation}
-\end{lemma}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 Put $s=H/M$ and choose $M-1$ internal levels independently in windows
 of length $\asymp s$ around equally spaced cuts. Each piece has height
 between $s/2$ and $2s$ and transverse excursion $\le As$, with
 endpoint shift directed towards the original axis. Reflection retains
 at least half the mass after the excursion restriction; the strip
 bound on each piece gives $cs^{-1/4}$; Cauchy--Schwarz over the lists
-of internal levels gives \eqref{eq:channel-bridge-mass}.
-\end{proof}
+of internal levels gives (eq:channel-bridge-mass).
 
-\paragraph{Essential polygons in a slab.}
 
-\begin{proposition}[Slab essential polygons]\label{prop:slab-essential-polygons}
+Essential polygons in a slab.: 
+
+[Slab essential polygons]
 There are absolute constants $c,C>0$ such that, for every sufficiently
 large integer $N$ and every horizontal slab $S$ of height $CN$ on the
 cylinder of period $N$:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:slab-essential-mass}
-\sum_{\gamma\subset S,\ \gamma\text{ essential simple}}
+
+\sum_{\gamma\subset S,\ \gamma essential simple}
 \kappa^{\ell(\gamma)}\ge c.
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 Build confined arches via collar decompositions at two ports
-$p,q$ separated by $D\in[N/2-\epsilon N,N/2+\epsilon N]$. Each collar
-uses \eqref{eq:deep-exit}, \eqref{eq:channel-bridge-mass}, and one
+$p,q$ separated by $D\in[N/2-ε N,N/2+ε N]$. Each collar
+uses (eq:deep-exit), (eq:channel-bridge-mass), and one
 $S(t)$ factor, so a collar pair has mass $\gtrsim N^{-3/2}$, and the
 connector adds another $N^{-5/4}$ factor by the $K_l$ estimate.
 Averaging over the collar-cut lists and Cauchy--Schwarz gives a
 slab-mass bound independent of the period. Joining upper and lower
 confined arches and averaging over their shared base level gives
-\eqref{eq:slab-essential-mass}.
-\end{proof}
+(eq:slab-essential-mass).
 
-\paragraph{Positivity of the negative polymer polynomial.}
+
+Positivity of the negative polymer polynomial.: 
 
 Let $D$ be the finite cylinder between horizontal row-boundary caps,
 with height $H=h d_0$ and quotient by $N$ steps. Let $\mathcal P$ be
 its set of simple polygons. For $0\le\beta'\le3/8$, put
 $\alpha=\pi\beta'/3$, $x=(2\cos\alpha)^{-1}$, and
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:omega-weight}
-\omega(L)=x^{|L|}\cdot\begin{cases}
--2\cos(4\alpha),&L\text{ contractible},\\
--2\cos(2\alpha),&L\text{ essential}.
-\end{cases}
-\end{equation}
-For $\mathcal A\subseteq\mathcal P$:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Q-def}
-Q(\mathcal A)=\sum_{\substack{\mathcal F\subseteq\mathcal A\\
-\text{polygons in }\mathcal F\text{ disjoint}}}
+
+\omega(L)=x^{|L|}\cdot
+-2\cos(4\alpha),&L contractible,\\
+-2\cos(2\alpha),&L essential.
+
+
+For $\mathcal A⊆\mathcal P$:
+
+Q(\mathcal A)=\sum_{\substack{\mathcal F⊆\mathcal A\\
+polygons in \mathcal F disjoint}}
 \prod_{L\in\mathcal F}\omega(L).
-\end{equation}
 
-\begin{auxproposition}[Positivity]\label{prop:Q-positive}
-For every $N\ge1$, $h\ge1$, $0\le\beta'\le3/8$, $\mathcal A\subseteq\mathcal P$:
+
+[Positivity]
+For every $N\ge1$, $h\ge1$, $0\le\beta'\le3/8$, $\mathcal A⊆\mathcal P$:
 $Q(\mathcal A)>0$.
-\end{auxproposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 Short periods $N=1$ or $h=1$ follow from the explicit row-cycle
 formulas. For $N,h\ge2$: elementary polygons (six-centre loops around
 interior lattice points) form a connected overlap family meeting every
 triangle centre, so the incompatibility graph is connected. The signed
 exit identity gives
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Q-expression}
-Q(\mathcal P)=\sum_{\gamma:p\to\partial D}x^{|\gamma|}
-e^{i\beta'W(\gamma)}Q(\{L:L\cap\gamma=\varnothing\}).
-\end{equation}
+
+Q(\mathcal P)=\sum_{\gamma:p\to∂ D}x^{|\gamma|}
+e^{i\beta'W(\gamma)}Q(\{L:L\cap\gamma=∅\}).
+
 Continue from $\beta'=0$, $x=1/2$ where defect terms are nonnegative,
 to $\beta'=3/8$. A minimal-zero subset $\mathcal A$ must be all of
 $\mathcal P$ by connectedness; but a fixed bridge through every level
 gives a positive residual polynomial, contradiction.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Deletion and free-energy bounds.}
+
+Deletion and free-energy bounds.: 
 
 At the endpoint parameters replace $\omega(L)$ by the essential-only
 weight $-t\kappa^{|L|}$ with $t\in[0,\sqrt2]$. Positivity holds by
 multiaffinity. The deletion ratio is
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:cylinder-deletion-ratio}
-H_H(\gamma;t)\ge\exp\Big(t\!\sum_{\ell\ \text{essential},\ \ell\cap\gamma\ne\varnothing}\!\kappa^{|\ell|}\Big).
-\end{equation}
-Combining \eqref{eq:cylinder-deletion-ratio} with
-\eqref{eq:slab-essential-mass} and \eqref{eq:strip-upper} gives
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:cylinder-free-energy}
+
+H_H(\gamma;t)\ge\exp\Big(t\!\sum_{\ell\ essential,\ \ell\cap\gamma\ne∅}\!\kappa^{|\ell|}\Big).
+
+Combining (eq:cylinder-deletion-ratio) with
+(eq:slab-essential-mass) and (eq:strip-upper) gives
+
 -\log Z_H(\sqrt2)\le CH/N\qquad(H\ge N),
-\end{equation}
+
 and hence
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:cylinder-integrated-ratio}
-\int_1^{\sqrt2}\sum_{\ell\text{ essential}}\kappa^{|\ell|}
+
+\int_1^{\sqrt2}\sum_{\ell essential}\kappa^{|\ell|}
 H_H(\ell;t)\,dt\le CH/N.
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{Cylinder barriers and height tails.}
 
-\begin{auxproposition}[Barriers and tails]\label{prop:cylinder-barriers}
+Cylinder barriers and height tails.: 
+
+[Barriers and tails]
 On the infinite cylinder of period $N$:
-\begin{enumerate}
+
 \item The individual critical weights of essential polygons meeting a
 fixed horizontal level have bounded sum.
 \item From a fixed bottom port in a semi-infinite cylinder, arches
 reaching height $s$ have mass at most $Ce^{-cs/N}$.
 \item For $s\ge1$, all polygons meeting a fixed level with height span
-in $[s,2s]$ have total mass at most $\operatorname{poly}(N,s)
+in $[s,2s]$ have total mass at most $poly(N,s)
 e^{-cs/N}$.
-\end{enumerate}
-\end{auxproposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
-Combine \eqref{eq:cylinder-deletion-ratio} with
-\eqref{eq:slab-essential-mass}. A polygon of span $s$ meets order
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
+Combine (eq:cylinder-deletion-ratio) with
+(eq:slab-essential-mass). A polygon of span $s$ meets order
 $s/(CN)$ disjoint slabs, each forcing positive-size cost:
 $H_H(\gamma;t)\gtrsim e^{c's/N}$. Sum by spans between $(jN,(j+1)N)$.
 The case $N=2$ uses an explicit two-strip surgery on the two choices of
 upward-centre; $N=1$ is a row-cycle count.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Local nesting and boundary occupancy.}
 
-\begin{proposition}[Local nesting]\label{prop:local-nesting}
+Local nesting and boundary occupancy.: 
+
+[Local nesting]
 Let $Z(R)$ be the positive partition sum of pairwise disjoint simple
 polygons in the plane, factor $2$, critical weight, supported within
 radius $R$ of a fixed triangular-lattice point, including the empty
 system. Then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Z-R}
+
 Z(R)=R^{1/12+o(1)}.
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 On a cylinder, disregard essential separators at bounded multiplicative
-cost by \eqref{eq:cylinder-deletion-ratio}. Contractible separators
+cost by (eq:cylinder-deletion-ratio). Contractible separators
 lift to plane polygons around the marked point; the barrier bounds
-\eqref{eq:cylinder-barriers} discard those with excessive vertical or
+(eq:cylinder-barriers) discard those with excessive vertical or
 horizontal span. Systems inject. Hence
 $\mathcal Z\lesssim Z(CN^{1+2\xi})^2$ for any $\xi>0$, and combining
-with \eqref{eq:nesting-ratio} and taking $\xi\downarrow0$ gives
-\eqref{eq:Z-R}.
-\end{proof}
+with (eq:nesting-ratio) and taking $\xi↓0$ gives
+(eq:Z-R).
+
 
-\begin{proposition}[Boundary occupancy]\label{prop:occupancy}
+[Boundary occupancy]
 Let $D$ be a finite convex tiled domain and let $e$ be an internal
 honeycomb link crossing a tiling edge $[y,z]$. If $U_D(e)$ is the
 critical mass of completed external paths using $e$ with ordered free
 boundary ports, then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:occupancy}
+
 U_D(e)\asymp Z_D(y)+Z_D(z)
-\end{equation}
+
 with absolute constants.
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 The cut-link identity gives a signed exit mass
 $S_e=Z_e+(M_y+M_z)/\sqrt2$, where $Z_e$ is the enclosing-polygon
 partition in the cut domain and $M_y,M_z$ are contributions of a
 polygon that uses $e$ with $y$ or $z$ inside ($Z_D(y)=Z_e+2M_y$,
 $Z_D(z)=Z_e+2M_z$). Reversing path prefixes and summing over sources
-yields \eqref{eq:occupancy}.
-\end{proof}
+yields (eq:occupancy).
+
 
 
 
-\paragraph{Bounded-factor nesting estimates.}\label{sec:uniform-nesting}
+Bounded-factor nesting estimates.: 
 
-The saturation bound of Section~\ref{c6:saturation} identifies a nonzero
+The saturation bound of Section~c6:saturation identifies a nonzero
 normalization at exponent level. We now sharpen two inputs to bounded
 factors: the geometric comparison between plane and cylinder, and the
 analytic estimate of the normalized edge contributions. Both are used
-in the sewing argument (\S\ref{sec:sewing}).
+in the sewing argument (\Ssec:sewing).
 
-\paragraph{Deletion ratio and the first-hit comparison.}
+Deletion ratio and the first-hit comparison.: 
 
 Let $D$ be either a finite cylinder between flat caps, or a finite
 convex tiled polygon in the plane. Write
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Q-D}
-Q_D=\begin{cases}
-Z_H(\sqrt2),&D\text{ cylinder},\\
-1,&D\text{ plane},
-\end{cases}
-\end{equation}
+
+Q_D=
+Z_H(\sqrt2),&D cylinder,\\
+1,&D plane,
+
+
 the positive essential-polygon partition. For a set $K$ of occupied
 centres:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:theta-D-K}
-\Theta_D(K)=Q_{D\setminus K}/Q_D.
-\end{equation}
 
-\begin{lemma}[Deletion monotonicity]\label{lem:deletion-monotone}
-$\Theta_D(K)$ is increasing in both the set of available polygons and
+Θ_D(K)=Q_{D∖ K}/Q_D.
+
+
+[Deletion monotonicity]
+$Θ_D(K)$ is increasing in both the set of available polygons and
 the deleted set $K$, for $0\le t\le\sqrt2$.
-\end{lemma}
 
-\begin{proof}
+
+Proof. 
 For a single deleted polygon $v$:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:single-deletion-ratio}
-Q_P/Q_{P\setminus v}=1-t\kappa^{|v|}\cdot Q_{P\setminus N[v]}/Q_{P\setminus v},
-\end{equation}
+
+Q_P/Q_{P∖ v}=1-t\kappa^{|v|}\cdot Q_{P∖ N[v]}/Q_{P∖ v},
+
 where $N[v]$ is the closed conflict neighbourhood. By positivity
-\eqref{eq:Q-def} the ratio is $\ge1$. Induction on $|P|$ (deleting
+(eq:Q-def) the ratio is $\ge1$. Induction on $|P|$ (deleting
 neighbours successively in the smaller set) gives the multi-deletion
 inequality; extra neighbours only increase the ratio.
-\end{proof}
+
 
 For a simple polygon $L\subset D$ and a boundary source $a$, let
 $P(a,L)$ be the real part of the normalized signed mass of stems that
 first hit $L$. Contour identity:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:first-hit-comparison}
+
 1\ge P(a,L)\ge
-\sum_{\substack{\gamma:a\to\partial D\\ \gamma\cap L\ne\varnothing}}
+\sum_{\substack{\gamma:a\to∂ D\\ \gamma\cap L\ne∅}}
 \kappa^{|\gamma|}\cos(\beta W(\gamma))H_D(\gamma)\ge0.
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{Boundary-flux primitive.}
 
-\begin{auxlemma}[Primitive of boundary flux]\label{lem:flux-primitive}
+Boundary-flux primitive.: 
+
+[Primitive of boundary flux]
 Choose a dual-edge chain $\Gamma$ from a boundary lattice vertex $y_0$
-to an interior vertex $y$. Define $\operatorname{cr}_\Gamma(\gamma)$ to
+to an interior vertex $y$. Define $cr_\Gamma(\gamma)$ to
 be the signed number of $\Gamma$-crossings of a completed path and put
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:current-I}
-I=\Im\sum_{a\in\partial D}\sum_{\gamma:a\to\partial D}
-\operatorname{cr}_\Gamma(\gamma)\,\kappa^{|\gamma|}e^{i\beta W(\gamma)}H_D(\gamma).
-\end{equation}
+
+I=\Im\sum_{a\in∂ D}\sum_{\gamma:a\to∂ D}
+cr_\Gamma(\gamma)\,\kappa^{|\gamma|}e^{i\beta W(\gamma)}H_D(\gamma).
+
 Then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:flux-primitive-bound}
-2\!\!\sum_{L\text{ contractible enclosing }y}\!\!\kappa^{|L|}H_D(L)\sum_aP(a,L)
-\le|I|+\sqrt2\!\!\sum_{L\text{ essential}}\!\!\kappa^{|L|}H_D(L)\sum_aP(a,L).
-\end{equation}
+
+2\!\!\sum_{L contractible enclosing y}\!\!\kappa^{|L|}H_D(L)\sum_aP(a,L)
+\le|I|+\sqrt2\!\!\sum_{L essential}\!\!\kappa^{|L|}H_D(L)\sum_aP(a,L).
+
 The essential sum is absent in the plane.
-\end{auxlemma}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 Evaluate the same prefix current $J$ two ways.
-\emph{(i)} Telescoping along $\Gamma$ via the cut-link identity of
-Prop.~\ref{prop:occupancy}: $J=-(\mathcal Y(y)/Q_D-1)/\sqrt2$.
-\emph{(ii)} Continuing each prefix to its first exit gives
+(i) Telescoping along $\Gamma$ via the cut-link identity of
+Prop.~prop:occupancy: $J=-(\mathcal Y(y)/Q_D-1)/\sqrt2$.
+(ii) Continuing each prefix to its first exit gives
 $J=I+2A+E$, where $A$ is the contractible enclosing sum and $|E|\le
-\sqrt2\sum_{\text{essential}}\kappa^{|L|}H_D(L)\sum_aP(a,L)$ (turn
+\sqrt2\sum_{essential}\kappa^{|L|}H_D(L)\sum_aP(a,L)$ (turn
 increments $\pm4\pi/3$ versus $\pm2\pi/3$). Comparing gives the
 inequality.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{The annular bound.}
 
-\begin{proposition}[Planar annular bound]\label{prop:annular-bound}
+The annular bound.: 
+
+[Planar annular bound]
 For every $s\ge1$ and every interior lattice point $y$:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:annular-mass}
-\sum_{\substack{L\text{ contractible enclosing }y\\
-\operatorname{diam}(L)\in[s,2s]}}\kappa^{|L|}\le C.
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+\sum_{\substack{L contractible enclosing y\\
+diam(L)\in[s,2s]}}\kappa^{|L|}\le C.
+
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 Take a regular lattice hexagon of inradius $\asymp s$ around $y$. Only
 chords that separate $y$ from $y_0$ contribute to $I$, with bounded net
 crossing; summing the boundary diameter bound over the sources gives
@@ -2255,80 +2255,80 @@ A polygon enclosing $y$ with diameter in $[s,2s]$ fits inside a
 doubled hexagon and has transverse span $\ge cs$ in some pure direction.
 For order $s$ sources on the corresponding cap, transverse tubes of
 width $\ll s$ force intersection of every confined path with $L$, so
-\eqref{eq:channel-bridge-mass} and \eqref{eq:first-hit-comparison} give
+(eq:channel-bridge-mass) and (eq:first-hit-comparison) give
 $\sum_aP(a,L)\ge cs^{3/4}$. The essential sum vanishes in the plane; the
 auxlemma gives the bound.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Bounded cost of large specified lifts.}
 
-\begin{auxproposition}[Bounded cost of large lifts]\label{prop:large-lifts}
+Bounded cost of large specified lifts.: 
+
+[Bounded cost of large lifts]
 Fix $c_2>0$. On a cylinder of period $N$, the total individual critical
 weight of contractible polygons enclosing a fixed mark $y$ whose
 specified lifts have diameter greater than $c_2N$ is at most $C_{c_2}$,
 independently of $N$.
-\end{auxproposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
-\emph{Good heights.} Put $F_H(t)=-\log Z_H(t)$. Superadditivity of
-$F_H$ in $H$ plus the free-energy bound \eqref{eq:cylinder-free-energy}
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
+Good heights. Put $F_H(t)=-\log Z_H(t)$. Superadditivity of
+$F_H$ in $H$ plus the free-energy bound (eq:cylinder-free-energy)
 make
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:good-height}
+
 a_j=\frac{NF_{H_j}(\sqrt2)}{H_j},\qquad H_j=d_0N2^j,
-\end{equation}
+
 a nondecreasing sequence in $[0,C]$. For any $u>0$, at most $4rC/u$
 indices (for $k=2^r$ a fixed dyadic integer depending on $u$) violate
 $F_{H_j}(\sqrt2)-kF_{H_j/k}(\sqrt2)\le uH_j/(4N)$, and then
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:good-height-conclusion}
-\sum_{L\text{ essential in }H_j\text{-slab}}\kappa^{|L|}H_{\text{slab}}(L)
+
+\sum_{L essential in H_j-slab}\kappa^{|L|}H_{slab}(L)
 \le e^{uH_j/N}.
-\end{equation}
 
-\emph{Good-height contractible sums.} For a good height $H$,
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:good-contractible}
-\sum_{\substack{L\text{ contractible enclosing }y\\
-\operatorname{span}_{\text{vert}}\in[H/4,H/2]}}\kappa^{|L|}\le Ce^{-cH/N},
-\end{equation}
+
+Good-height contractible sums. For a good height $H$,
+
+\sum_{\substack{L contractible enclosing y\\
+span_{vert}\in[H/4,H/2]}}\kappa^{|L|}\le Ce^{-cH/N},
+
 by binning their minimum levels into windows of width $\delta N$ (bounded
 number of bins by good-height hypothesis), applying
-\eqref{eq:flux-primitive-bound} in an encompassing slab, and using
-\eqref{eq:cap-first-hit} and the slab-bound \auxref{prop:cylinder-barriers}
+(eq:flux-primitive-bound) in an encompassing slab, and using
+(eq:cap-first-hit) and the slab-bound \auxref{prop:cylinder-barriers}
 to control both sides.
 
-\emph{Tilted cylinder projection.} Dyadic bands with vertical span
+Tilted cylinder projection. Dyadic bands with vertical span
 $\ge cN$ project injectively onto a cylinder tilted by $60^\circ$, of
 period $\asymp$ span. The tilted cylinder has its own dyadic-height
 decomposition; by the above, all but boundedly many heights are good, so
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:large-lifts-bound}
-\sum_{\substack{L\text{ contractible enclosing }y\\
-\text{lift-diam}>c_2N}}\kappa^{|L|}\le C_{c_2}.
-\end{equation}
+
+\sum_{\substack{L contractible enclosing y\\
+lift-diam>c_2N}}\kappa^{|L|}\le C_{c_2}.
+
 The remaining finite collection of exceptional bands is bounded by the
-planar annular bound \eqref{eq:annular-mass} applied to the corresponding
+planar annular bound (eq:annular-mass) applied to the corresponding
 diameter intervals.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Classwise convergence of the normalization.}
 
-\begin{auxproposition}[Classwise convergence]\label{prop:classwise-convergence}
+Classwise convergence of the normalization.: 
+
+[Classwise convergence]
 For $r\in\{0,i\pi/2\}$ put $\sigma(r)=3/8+2r^2/(3\pi^2)$ and
 $\mathcal A_m(r)=e^{-Im^2}m^{-\sigma(r)}P_m(e^r)$. There exist a fixed
 integer $Q\ge1$, a $\delta>0$, and positive constants
 $\mathfrak a_b(r)$, $0\le b<Q$, such that
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:classwise-convergence}
+
 \mathcal A_m(r)=\mathfrak a_{m\bmod Q}(r)+O(m^{-\delta}).
-\end{equation}
+
 Consequently
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:uniform-cylinder-ratio}
+
 \mathcal Z_{m,m}(1)=P_m(1)/P_m(i)\asymp m^{1/6}.
-\end{equation}
-\end{auxproposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 Work with the periodic grand sum at period
 $T=2a_0^{-1}\log m+g+i\theta$, $|\theta|\le\pi/2$, for a suitably large
-fixed $g$. The stability estimate \eqref{eq:Z-coercive} and
-localization \eqref{eq:gas-localization} continue to hold with the
+fixed $g$. The stability estimate (eq:Z-coercive) and
+localization (eq:gas-localization) continue to hold with the
 coercivity error $O(1/g)\mathcal Q$ absorbed by $g$ large; the period
 graph is fixed-mod-$g$ independent of $m$ on half intervals.
 
@@ -2337,86 +2337,86 @@ $e^{-2Am^2e^{-2T}}e^{-Im^2}m^{-\sigma(r)}$ produces an
 $F_m(\theta,r)$ whose circle mean is exactly $\mathcal A_m(r)$. We show
 $F_m$ is Cauchy at exponential speed along each class modulo $Q$.
 
-\emph{Scalar factor.} The quadratic bulk contribution gives
+Scalar factor. The quadratic bulk contribution gives
 $m^{3/8}$; the logarithmic determinant gives
-$\pi T/(16L)=\frac{5}{24}\log m$ plus constant; combining with the
+$\pi T/(16L)=(5)/(24)\log m$ plus constant; combining with the
 edge integrals gives $m^{\sigma(r)}$ exactly.
 
-\emph{Edge integrals.} Retain only particles within $\epsilon T'$ of an
+Edge integrals. Retain only particles within $ε T'$ of an
 edge, at most $T'$ particles, charge $j$ matching the right edge. The
 omitted mass is $e^{-cT'}$, and standard small-slope deformation gives
 agreement of the two retained integrands up to $e^{-cT'}$.
 
-\emph{Discrete phases.} The $m$-dependent phase factors are roots of
+Discrete phases. The $m$-dependent phase factors are roots of
 unity from fixed logarithmic branch multiplies; the entire phase
 depends only on $m\bmod Q$ for a suitable finite $Q$ chosen as a common
 multiple of the (finitely many) root-of-unity denominators. The
 retained count is at most $T'$, so $\|F_{m'}-F_m\|$ is
 $\lesssim e^{-cT'}$ for $m'=m+Q$. This proves
-\eqref{eq:classwise-convergence}.
-\end{proof}
+(eq:classwise-convergence).
+
 
 
 
-\paragraph{Uniform correlations of two prescribed edges.}\label{u:marked-uniform}
+Uniform correlations of two prescribed edges.: 
 
 We prove the third main theorem: the two-edge marked-polygon bound
-\eqref{eq:marked-uniform}, uniform both in the staircase direction and
+(eq:marked-uniform), uniform both in the staircase direction and
 in the ratio $N/d$. The argument has three parts: (a) identify the
 two-edge observable as a contraction of polynomial columns, (b) in the
 balanced (antipodal) case reduce it to a two-line gas and estimate,
 (c) for unequal intervals control the two long columns outside a small
 core.
 
-\paragraph{Setup.}
+Setup.: 
 
 Keep the triangular-lattice directions $e_1,e_2$ and identical
 translated marks $E,E+P$ with $P=P_1e_1+P_2e_2$, $P_1,P_2>0$. Thus
 $d=P_1+P_2$ is even, the cylinder period is $kP$ with $k\ge2$, and
-$N=kd$. The polygon weight is $\kappa^{\#\text{triangle centres visited}}$.
+$N=kd$. The polygon weight is $\kappa^{\#triangle centres visited}$.
 The two restrictions (edge plus displacement) place both marks on a
 monotone staircase of period $P$. The parity of $d$ makes both
 intervals between the marks even in staircase steps.
 
-\paragraph{Finite marked contraction.}
+Finite marked contraction.: 
 
 Fix integers $k\ge1$, $0\le l,h\le k$, and $m,n\ge0$. Take two lists
 of common slots $A$ (size $m$) and $B$ (size $n$), and four extra lists
 $E_b,H_b$ (sizes $l,h$) and $E_t,H_t$ (sizes $k-l,k-h$). Columns below
 have total length $m+n+l+h$, above $m+n+2k-l-h$.
 
-\begin{auxproposition}[Finite marked contraction]\label{prop:marked-contract}
+[Finite marked contraction]
 For $\delta\ne0$, the contraction
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:Y-def}
-Y=\big\langle\Psi_b\big|\,\delta^{\sum_A p_j}\big|\Psi_t\big\rangle,
-\end{equation}
+
+Y=\big<\Psi_b\big|\,\delta^{\sum_A p_j}\big|\Psi_t\big>,
+
 of the columns (below with physical rapidities, above with negated
 rapidities, spin-fixed extra lists $-,+,+,-$) satisfies
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:finite-marked-contraction}
+
 Y=Q_{lh}\,\mathcal J_{\rm ext}\!\!
 \sum_{\substack{a_j\in\{-1,0,1\}\\
 \sum_Aa_j-\sum_Ba_j=h-l}}
 (i/\delta)^{\sum_Aa_j}\,\mathcal W(a)\,\mathcal M(a),
-\end{equation}
+
 where the right-hand data are specified below.
-\end{auxproposition}
+
 
 Here:
-\begin{itemize}
+
 \item $Q_{lh}=\tfrac12C^{k/2}s^{-k}(-s^{-1})^ls^{-h}$.
 \item $J(u)=\cos(u+L)\cos(u+2L)$, and $\mathcal J_{\rm ext}$ is a
 product of $J$-factors between extra slots in each list.
 \item $\mathcal W(a)=\prod_jc_{a_j}\prod_{j<j'}P_{a_ja_{j'}}(v_{j'}-v_j)
-\prod_{j<j',\,\text{same list}}D(v_{j'}-v_j)$, with $P$, $D$ from
-Section~\ref{c6:periodic-polynomial}.
+\prod_{j<j',\,same list}D(v_{j'}-v_j)$, with $P$, $D$ from
+Section~c6:periodic-polynomial.
 \item $M^1_+(u)=(1,\cos(u+L),J(u))$, $M^1_0=1$ extracted by
 convention, and $M^2_a(u)=M^1_{-a}(-u)$.
-\item $\mathcal M(a)=\prod_{j\in A\cup B}\prod_{e\in\text{extras}}
+\item $\mathcal M(a)=\prod_{j\in A\cup B}\prod_{e\inextras}
 M^{d(j,e)}_{a_j}(x_e-v_j)$ with $d(j,e)\in\{1,2\}$ determined by list
 and spin type.
-\end{itemize}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 Divide both sides by the within-extra-list $J$-products; the resulting
 polynomial is separately symmetric in each list. Compare cap
 specializations of adjacency: at each extra-common pair, one
@@ -2427,76 +2427,76 @@ $J(u-b)=J(-u)$ and $D(u)=J(u)J(-u)$ close the recursion. Degrees
 after division match on both sides with definite parities, leaving
 only a constant factor, fixed by the base case $m+n=0$ (equivalently
 by saturation of the two fixed-spin columns).
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Physical interpretation.}
 
-\begin{auxproposition}[Physical two-edge mass]\label{prop:physical-two-edge}
+Physical interpretation.: 
+
+[Physical two-edge mass]
 For $k=2$, $l=h=1$, $\delta=i$, and physical rapidities zero:
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:physical-two-edge}
+
 \frac{Y}{f_{m+n+2}(0)^2}
-\end{equation}
+
 is the critical mass of individual simple polygons through the two
 prescribed row edges on the cylinder, counted once per polygon.
-\end{auxproposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 At $k=2$, $l=h=1$ and $\delta=i$, the extra fixed spins at $E$, $H$
 force two oriented arcs from $E$ to $H$, one departing upward and one
 departing downward, uniquely determined by the polygon's local side
 at the marks. Two arcs form the polygon in one orientation only.
 The relative signs (from turns, seams, and the phase insertion) yield
 a positive weight; the identity extends by height exhaustion.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{The antipodal case.}
+
+The antipodal case.: 
 
 When the two marks are antipodal (i.e.\ $P_1=P_2=m+1$ and $k=2$), the
-two-line gas of Section~\ref{c6:gas} directly estimates the marked mass.
+two-line gas of Section~c6:gas directly estimates the marked mass.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Antipodal bound]\label{prop:antipodal-bound}
+[Antipodal bound]
 On the homogeneous cylinder of even period $2m+2$ with antipodal row
 sites, the two-edge marked mass satisfies
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:antipodal-bound}
+
 K_2\le(m+1)^{-4/3+o(1)}.
-\end{equation}
-\end{proposition}
 
-\begin{proof}[Sketch]
+
+
+Proof. [Sketch]
 The two extra slots $(E,H)$ supply $J(v)^2$ at an unlowered common
 site plus additional factors $\cos^2z/\cos^2(z+b)$ per lowering, which
 amount to a shift of the magnetic potential by a bounded factor. Normalize
 by $Q_{11}C^mD(0)^{m(m-1)}J(0)^{4m}$; this gives the constant
-$P'_m/P_M(i)$ with $M=m+1$, exactly the ratio used in Section~\ref{c6:gas}.
+$P'_m/P_M(i)$ with $M=m+1$, exactly the ratio used in Section~c6:gas.
 The gas estimate at this shifted potential gives the claimed bound.
 
-\emph{The magnetic test potential.}
+The magnetic test potential.
 In the residue lift, using the periodized variable $w=i\log$, the
 elementary potential at $z=iw$ is $e^{MV(w)}[-\sin(z+L)/\sin(z-L)]$.
 The bracket is replaced by
-\begin{equation}\label{eq:U-T}
-U_T(w)=-\frac{S_T(w-iL)}{S_T(w+iL)}
-\left(e^{-3iL}\frac{S_T(w-T/2+iL)}{S_T(w-T/2+4iL)}\right)^2,
-\end{equation}
+
+U_T(w)=-(S_T(w-iL))/(S_T(w+iL))
+(e^{-3iL}(S_T(w-T/2+iL))/(S_T(w-T/2+4iL)))^2,
+
 which is $T$-periodic, tends to the original bracket, is analytic in
 $e^{-T}$ near zero, and has a zero at $w=iL$ restoring pole
 multiplicity $m$. The first ratio's continuous log increases by
 $12iL$ over a period, compensated by the edge ratio's $-12iL$.
-\end{proof}
 
 
 
-\paragraph{Staircases and the two background lists.}
-\label{c6:unequal-marks}
 
-We now prove the uniform two-edge bound \eqref{eq:marked-uniform}.
-The insertion identity \eqref{eq:finite-marked-contraction} is unchanged,
+Staircases and the two background lists.: 
+
+
+We now prove the uniform two-edge bound (eq:marked-uniform).
+The insertion identity (eq:finite-marked-contraction) is unchanged,
 but its two lists now have different lengths.  The argument keeps two
 scales apart: a logarithmic core of size $\asymp\log d$ and a full
 period of size $\asymp\log N$.  All constants below are independent of
 $P_1,P_2,k$.
 
-\paragraph{The staircase row cut.} Use a periodic monotone staircase
+The staircase row cut.:  Use a periodic monotone staircase
 in $e_1,e_2$ (period $P$ through each mark), and translate it in the
 third lattice-edge direction to make rows.  This tiles the plane by
 lozenges; reading each lozenge as a square tile, the honeycomb path
@@ -2506,7 +2506,7 @@ corner (they exchange $a,h$ and $c,d$ in the tile notation).  After a
 lattice reflection if necessary, take the majority of steps at
 argument $2L$.
 
-\paragraph{Through-lines disappear.} The projection argument for two
+Through-lines disappear.:  The projection argument for two
 marks applies verbatim to the column parameter $t$ above (with its
 negative below by crossing).  On the lifted slab bounded by two
 stairs, the contour from a fixed source has a rotated real coefficient
@@ -2525,7 +2525,7 @@ hexagon, and reverse the exits at the pure sides; the mass is
 $O_N(r^{-1/4})$, so through-lines have vanishing weight and empty
 projections retain the same limits.
 
-\paragraph{The two-column picture.} Both extra rapidities in each
+The two-column picture.:  Both extra rapidities in each
 column now take a single value $x_e$.  The two common lists have
 sizes $m=d-1$ and $n=N-d-1$.  Augment each for the plasma calculation
 by one site at $x_e$ to obtain background lists of sizes $M_A=d$ and
@@ -2535,23 +2535,23 @@ minority steps, $0<\lambda\le1/2$.  After a rapidity translation, put
 the majority value at $r_0 L$ and the minority at $(r_0-1)L$, with
 $r_0=1/4+\lambda/2$.
 
-\paragraph{The residue sum.} As in the balanced two-leg case, the
+The residue sum.:  As in the balanced two-leg case, the
 potentials are one copy of $R_{gh}(i(w+iv_e))$ per augmented-list
 site of color $h$ and value $v_e$, together with the common magnetic
-factor $-\sinh(w+ix_e-iL)/\sinh(w+ix_e+iL)$; this follows by shifting
+factor $-sinh(w+ix_e-iL)/sinh(w+ix_e+iL)$; this follows by shifting
 each extra-slot factor of the balanced calculation.  Let $P'$ be the
 remaining residue sum.  Using $D(y)=J(y)J(-y)$ and $Q_{11}=C/2$, the
 prefactor divided by $f_N^2$ in the observable is
-\begin{equation}
+
 \frac{C^{N/2}\prod_{e<f:\,g_e=g_f}D(v_e-v_f)}{2f_N^2}
-\;\prod_{e\text{ common}}\frac{J(v_e-x_e)}{J(x_e-v_e)}.
-\label{eq:legacy-P-23}
-\end{equation}
+\;\prod_{e common}(J(v_e-x_e))/(J(x_e-v_e)).
+
+
 Lowering counts satisfy $K_g=M_g+u$ with a common integer $u$.
 Periodize with the magnetic factor
 \[
-U_T(w)=-\frac{S_T(w+ix_e-iL)}{S_T(w+ix_e+iL)}
-\left(e^{-3iL}\frac{S_T(w-T/2+iL)}{S_T(w-T/2+4iL)}\right)^2,
+U_T(w)=-(S_T(w+ix_e-iL))/(S_T(w+ix_e+iL))
+(e^{-3iL}(S_T(w-T/2+iL))/(S_T(w-T/2+4iL)))^2,
 \]
 and put background charges $q_e=-q_{g_e}$ at offsets $a_e=-v_e$ in
 the central theta sum; then the Gaussian center $X$ includes
@@ -2560,8 +2560,8 @@ nome limit and rapidity continuation work as in the balanced case,
 with singularities at differences exactly $L$ removed by continuation
 in rapidities.
 
-\paragraph{The ordered magnetic gas.}
-\label{u:ordered-gas}
+The ordered magnetic gas.: 
+
 
 The staircase fixes the background lists; we next express their
 residue sum as an ordered gas whose integer height records the
@@ -2569,36 +2569,36 @@ winding.  Phases are retained in this step: the interval estimate
 below uses the resulting transfer operator rather than the modulus
 of an unidentified periodic partition.
 
-\paragraph{The extended mode matrix.} Put $E(p)=\sum_e e^{-p a_e}{\bf e}_{g_e}$.
+The extended mode matrix.:  Put $E(p)=\sum_e e^{-p a_e}{\bf e}_{g_e}$.
 Include extra background slots $E_e$ of count-mode 1 in the mode
 matrix, with pair entries from the potentials (${\cal M}_{R,E}n_E=-K\widehat\rho E$)
 and inverse couplings initially zero; their mutual block is zero
 except at Laurent zero, where we assign $4q_eq_f/p^2+4q_eq_f(a_e-a_f)/p$
 with zero finite part.  Then:
 
-\begin{itemize}
+
 \item The bulk log term is
-\begin{equation}
+
 S(T)=\frac1{2T}\sum_p E(-p)^tK(p)E(p)\widehat\rho(p)^2
 -\tfrac12(T/3-2\log2)(M_A-M_B)^2.
-\label{eq:legacy-P-24}
-\end{equation}
-Determinants and measure conventions of \eqref{eq:legacy-P-star} are
+
+
+Determinants and measure conventions of (eq:legacy-P-star) are
 unchanged.
 
 \item The chemical potentials per final particle (before the magnetic
 test) are
-\begin{equation}
+
 2\pi i\,\sigma_i\!\!\!\sum_{e:\,g_e=g_i}\!\!\!
 \int_0^{s+i(v_e+\delta_i L)}\!\!\!
 \sum_{\nu\in\mathbb Z}\rho(z+\nu T)\,dz,\quad
 \sigma=(0,1,1,-1,0).
-\label{eq:legacy-P-25}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 Fugacity still brings $Tr_j^2/(4h_*)-r_j(u_*+\bar L)$.
-\end{itemize}
 
-\paragraph{Extended zero modes.}  At zero, take the raw right count
+
+Extended zero modes.:   At zero, take the raw right count
 vector with left and inverse modes as before, put the background
 modes at 1, and prescribe $q^t\gamma'_{\rm raw}
 =A_L+\sum_e q_ea_e+\pi l/2$.  The extended matrix has the same
@@ -2609,9 +2609,9 @@ $(M_A,M_B)$ leaves the free integer and Gaussian shift unchanged.  The
 assigned background block has zero contracted finite part at zero, and
 the linear symbol at a particle against a same-color site is
 $-2\pi\sigma_i e^{(v_e+\delta_i L)p}\widehat\rho(p)/p$; the primitive
-of \eqref{eq:legacy-P-25} follows.
+of (eq:legacy-P-25) follows.
 
-\paragraph{Ordered-position form.}  For particles in increasing real
+Ordered-position form.:   For particles in increasing real
 contour order write $H(s)=j+\sum_{\Re s_d>\Re s}W_d$ ($j$ the Poisson
 integer), with mid-value $H_m$ at jumps; winding neutrality closes the
 integer path.  Set $c^t$ by
@@ -2620,48 +2620,48 @@ integer path.  Set $c^t$ by
 \]
 so $u_*+\bar L=c^tn-(\pi i/h_*)\sum W_ds_d$.  (Here $J$ is the
 coupling block of the transform, not the site function of
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-23}.)  At zero,
-\begin{equation}
+(eq:legacy-P-23).)  At zero,
+
 Z=\alpha WW^t/p^2+M_*/p+O(1),\qquad
-M_*=-2\pi(\widetilde{\cal W}+Wc^t-cW^t),
-\label{eq:legacy-P-26}
-\end{equation}
-where $\widetilde{\cal W}$ is an integral skew matrix: change right
+M_*=-2\pi(\cal Wtilde+Wc^t-cW^t),
+
+
+where $\cal Wtilde$ is an integral skew matrix: change right
 variables by $-\ell n$ before Schur, then the non-right block has
-simple coefficient $-2\pi\widetilde{\cal W}$ from the shifted winding
+simple coefficient $-2\pi\cal Wtilde$ from the shifted winding
 matrix, and the remaining poles come from the common channel.
 
-\paragraph{Constant phases.}  Combined with the ordered factor from
+Constant phases.:   Combined with the ordered factor from
 $M_*/p$ and $-2\pi ijc^tn$, the explicit terms of
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-star} and the site/test couplings reduce, up to a
+(eq:legacy-P-star) and the site/test couplings reduce, up to a
 single unit prefactor, to
-\begin{equation}
+
 \prod_d\eta_{i_d}\exp[-2\pi i c_{i_d}H_m(s_d)]
-\label{eq:legacy-P-27}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 for fixed unit constants $\eta$ per species, valid for every choice of
 even $M_A,M_B$ (including 0).  The argument uses the $-i/2$ pole
 kernel at ordered (positive) separation, the unordered sign
-$(-1)^{\widetilde{\cal W}_{ab}}$ per pair from log constants, and
+$(-1)^{\cal Wtilde_{ab}}$ per pair from log constants, and
 residue-orientation and Weyl sign contributions whose second
-differences over count space reproduce $\widetilde{\cal W}$; these
+differences over count space reproduce $\cal Wtilde$; these
 cancel the unordered signs.  At every branch change of order $\nu$
-(across a singularity) $\widetilde{\cal W}$ shifts by the same
-amount and the sign $(-1)^\nu$ appears, so \eqref{eq:legacy-P-27}
+(across a singularity) $\cal Wtilde$ shifts by the same
+amount and the sign $(-1)^\nu$ appears, so (eq:legacy-P-27)
 persists under fusion and exterior branch changes.
 
-\paragraph{The short pair kernel.}  For ordered positive separations
+The short pair kernel.:   For ordered positive separations
 use the periodization of $G_{ab}(s)$ with a regular diagonal at
 contact, counting both periodic continuations once per positively
 separated pair (transpose at negative separations).  This is the
 inverse Fourier kernel after removing the two pole kernels of
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-26}; thus the off-contact gas exponent is minus one
+(eq:legacy-P-26); thus the off-contact gas exponent is minus one
 copy of $G$ per such pair (including translated partners), and the
 regular contact self term carries half weight.  For $\Re s>0$,
-\begin{equation}
+
 G_{ab}(s)=\sum_{l\ge1}\sum_{k=0}^{r_*}C_{ab,l,k}s^ke^{-\omega_ls},
-\label{eq:legacy-P-28}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 with $\omega_l>0$ growing at least linearly and $C_{ab,l,k}$ growing
 at most polynomially: the final two-line symbols have only unit-circle
 poles in $e^{Lp}$, of bounded order, so shifting the inverse contour
@@ -2669,57 +2669,57 @@ down in imaginary periods yields the residues above the separated
 zero-pole kernels, and tail rotation adds an exponentially vanishing
 remainder.
 
-\paragraph{From periodic gas estimates to interval operators.}
-\label{u:interval-operator}
+From periodic gas estimates to interval operators.: 
+
 
 We construct an operator whose products describe intervals of the
 ordered gas.  A bound on homogeneous closed periods alone does not
 control products of intervals with different potentials, so we need a
 common operator throughout.
 
-\paragraph{Homogeneous reference configuration.}  Fix a cell length
+Homogeneous reference configuration.:   Fix a cell length
 $S_0$ and consider a homogeneous gas with no magnetic functions or
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-25}, but with constant $r=-2a_0'$,
+(eq:legacy-P-25), but with constant $r=-2a_0'$,
 $a_0'=\pm6Li$, all five color-$A$ species allowed, and only $S,F$ of
 color $B$.  Beyond the pair term $G$ and the phases
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-27}, the exponent contains
-\begin{equation}
+(eq:legacy-P-27), the exponent contains
+
 -h_*^{-1}\int(\pi H+ia_0')^2\,ds+2a_0'c^tn.
-\label{eq:legacy-P-29}
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{Cell states and gauge.}  A cell state $x$ is an incoming
+
+
+Cell states and gauge.:   A cell state $x$ is an incoming
 integer height plus indistinguishable points of each species/color in
 an interval of length $S_0$, with factorial Lebesgue measure.  Along
 an edge $x\to y$ require outgoing height of $x$ to equal incoming of
 $y$.  Use the reference energy at zero tilt and no extra particle
 potential: $A(x,y)$ is half of each self energy (including
 $\pi^2/h_*\int H^2$) plus the real adjacent pair energy from
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-28} (cyclically omitting separations of at least
-two cells).  By \eqref{eq:legacy-P-P3}, for large $S_0$,
-\begin{equation}
-\sum A(x_i,x_{i+1})\ge4\epsilon_S\sum|x_i|_0^2-C_Sn_{\rm cells},
+(eq:legacy-P-28) (cyclically omitting separations of at least
+two cells).  By (eq:legacy-P-P3), for large $S_0$,
+
+\sum A(x_i,x_{i+1})\ge4ε_S\sum|x_i|_0^2-C_Sn_{\rm cells},
 \qquad|x|_0^2=N_x^2+H_{x,\rm in}^2,
-\label{eq:legacy-P-30}
-\end{equation}
-$\epsilon_S>0$ at least inverse-polynomial in $S_0$.  There is a Borel
+
+
+$ε_S>0$ at least inverse-polynomial in $S_0$.  There is a Borel
 $\phi$ on states away from coincidences with
 \[
-A(x,y)\ge2\epsilon_S(|x|_0^2+|y|_0^2)-C_S+\phi(y)-\phi(x),
+A(x,y)\ge2ε_S(|x|_0^2+|y|_0^2)-C_S+\phi(y)-\phi(x),
 \]
 obtained as the infimum of corrected path sums from the empty height
 zero state (finite since unit jumps of both signs are available).
 Gauging each forward edge by $\exp(\phi(y)-\phi(x))$ cancels on cycles,
 splits complex short comparisons into local errors
-$O_S(\mathrm{slope})(N_x^2+N_y^2)$, and leaves Gaussian margins in
+$O_S(slope)(N_x^2+N_y^2)$, and leaves Gaussian margins in
 both endpoints, including for small-slope complex cell deformations.
 
-\paragraph{Fock encoding of long-range interactions.}  For
+Fock encoding of long-range interactions.:   For
 interactions of range at least two cells add a bosonic symmetric Fock
 space over countably many finite propagation blocks.  Use semigroups
-$D_d$ generated by $-\omega_l+\text{nilpotent}$, with creation and
+$D_d$ generated by $-\omega_l+nilpotent$, with creation and
 detection arrays $u_a,v_b$ satisfying $v_bD_du_a=-G_{ba}(d)$ term by
-term in \eqref{eq:legacy-P-28}.  The Fock operator in forward order at
+term in (eq:legacy-P-28).  The Fock operator in forward order at
 edge $x_i\to x_{i+1}$ is
 \[
 \exp a^\dagger(U)\ \Gamma(D_{\ell'})\ \exp a(V),
@@ -2727,76 +2727,76 @@ edge $x_i\to x_{i+1}$ is
 with $V=\sum_{b\in x_{i+1}}v_bD_{d_b^L}$,
 $U=\sum_{a\in x_i}D_{\ell'+d_a^R}u_a$, symmetric tensor powers, and
 exponential-vector normalization.  Each block is rescaled so
-$\|U\|+\|V\|\le Ce^{-\epsilon S_0}(N_x+N_y)$; splitting
+$\|U\|+\|V\|\le Ce^{-ε S_0}(N_x+N_y)$; splitting
 $\Gamma(D_{\ell'})=\Gamma(\tfrac12I)\Gamma(4D_{\ell'})\Gamma(\tfrac12I)$
-and using $\langle a^\dagger(U)^k\rangle\le\|U\|^k\sqrt{(m+k)!/m!}$
+and using $< a^\dagger(U)^k>\le\|U\|^k√((m+k)!/m!)$
 bounds the trace norm by $\exp(C\|U\|^2+C\|V\|^2)$, within the
 Gaussian margins.  The resulting integral operators on $L^2$ with the
 classical state are Hilbert--Schmidt, also under bounded point log
 moduli per particle and bounded perturbations of the volume or height
 energies.
 
-\begin{lemma}[Homogeneous interval operators]\label{lem:u-homogeneous-operator}
+[Homogeneous interval operators]
 On the ambient cell space with the Fock fibers above, let
 $\mathcal T_\pm$ be homogeneous cell operators with all five color-$A$
 species and only $S,F$ of color $B$, other species having zero
 outgoing point weight, no magnetic functions or potentials
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-25}, constant tilt $a_0'=\pm6Li$, $r=-2a_0'$, and
+(eq:legacy-P-25), constant tilt $a_0'=\pm6Li$, $r=-2a_0'$, and
 weights consisting of the pair term $G$, the phases
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-27}, and the exponent \eqref{eq:legacy-P-29}.
+(eq:legacy-P-27), and the exponent (eq:legacy-P-29).
 Then both are Hilbert--Schmidt and
-$\operatorname{spr}(\mathcal T_\pm)<\exp(S_0/2)$.
-\end{lemma}
-\begin{proof}
+$spr(\mathcal T_\pm)<\exp(S_0/2)$.
+
+Proof. 
 The Hilbert--Schmidt assertion follows from the Fock trace-norm bound.
 
-\emph{Cyclic traces.}  Traces of cyclic products (at least two edges)
+Cyclic traces.  Traces of cyclic products (at least two edges)
 give exactly the ordered periodic gas times $\det(I-D_T)^{-1}$, the
 last tending to 1 at large period $T=m_0S_0$.  Normal-ordering the
 Fock product as $e^{a^\dagger(P)}\Gamma(D_T)e^{a(B)}$ plus internal
 contractions, the normalized trace is $\exp(B(I-D_T)^{-1}P)$, which
-recovers precisely \eqref{eq:legacy-P-28} at positive separations of at
+recovers precisely (eq:legacy-P-28) at positive separations of at
 least two cells and nothing else.
 
-\emph{Spectral radius via powers.}  For a compact Hilbert--Schmidt
-operator, $\operatorname{spr}(\mathcal T)=\limsup_m\|\mathcal T^m\|^{1/m}$;
+Spectral radius via powers.  For a compact Hilbert--Schmidt
+operator, $spr(\mathcal T)=limsup_m\|\mathcal T^m\|^{1/m}$;
 splitting off finite-dimensional outer eigenvalues leaves a strictly
 smaller radius on a complementary invariant space whose power traces
 are trace-class.  It suffices to bound the homogeneous log-trace per
-unit length along periods $m_0S_0$, $m_0\to\infty$.
+unit length along periods $m_0S_0$, $m_0\to∞$.
 
-\emph{Two-line transform.}  Fix real $T$ large and apply the two-line
+Two-line transform.  Fix real $T$ large and apply the two-line
 residue transform with no magnetic potential, $r=-2a_0'$, and
-backgrounds $M_A=0,M_B\to\infty$ even at zero.  The original sum has no
+backgrounds $M_A=0,M_B\to∞$ even at zero.  The original sum has no
 $A$ particles, but opening and transforming both lines is still valid
-by the coefficientwise proof of \eqref{eq:legacy-P-star}; after
-removing \eqref{eq:legacy-P-24} the transformed gas retains exactly
-the permitted species, because nonzero \eqref{eq:legacy-P-25} on $B$
+by the coefficientwise proof of (eq:legacy-P-star); after
+removing (eq:legacy-P-24) the transformed gas retains exactly
+the permitted species, because nonzero (eq:legacy-P-25) on $B$
 has real part strictly negative proportional to $M_B$ on this fixed
-real period.  The remaining exponent is \eqref{eq:legacy-P-29} via
+real period.  The remaining exponent is (eq:legacy-P-29) via
 $\int(H-j)=\sum W_ds_d$, and its determinant scalar per unit length in
 log is $1/2+o(1)$.
 
-\emph{One-line comparison.}  The same residue sum also admits a
+One-line comparison.  The same residue sum also admits a
 one-right-line calculation on $B$ with heat period $2bc_*$, a single
 insertion, Cartan kernel $K_{0,BB}=(2\pi/p)\coth(bp)$, and dressing
 $1-e$.  A single Weyl reflection twists the oscillator trace by the
 oscillator sign, contributing
 $\prod_{p>0}(1-e^{-2bp})/(1+e^{-2bp})$ and replacing the reciprocal
-Cartan multiplier by $\tanh(bp)$; the pair symbols reduce to same-color
-entries (color entry $c=0$).  The scalar \eqref{eq:legacy-P-24} is
-unchanged; \eqref{eq:legacy-P-25} applies; other zero factors grow only
+Cartan multiplier by $tanh(bp)$; the pair symbols reduce to same-color
+entries (color entry $c=0$).  The scalar (eq:legacy-P-24) is
+unchanged; (eq:legacy-P-25) applies; other zero factors grow only
 polynomially in $T$.
 
-\emph{Real same-color kernel.}  For positivity put
+Real same-color kernel.  For positivity put
 $D_0(z)=(z^2-z+1)(z^4-z^2+1)$, $t=e^{x/12}$,
 $H_{ij}=t^{-36+12(\delta_i-\delta_j)}D_0(t^{12})F_{ij}^{(0)}(t^{12})$
 with $x=Lp>0$.  After clearing positive scalars one checks that
-$(H+H^t)/(4\sinh x)$ is positive definite.  Here $(H+H^t)/2$ is
+$(H+H^t)/(4sinh x)$ is positive definite.  Here $(H+H^t)/2$ is
 Laurent of degree at most 36, opposite coefficients negatives of one
 another; each coefficient $B_j$ of $t^j$ ($1\le j\le36$) enters with
-multiplier $\sinh(\beta x)/\sinh x$, $\beta=j/12$.  With
-$a=2\cosh x-2$ and nodes $1,4,9$ the interpolation coefficients are
+multiplier $sinh(\beta x)/sinh x$, $\beta=j/12$.  With
+$a=2cosh x-2$ and nodes $1,4,9$ the interpolation coefficients are
 \[
 u_0=\beta,\quad u_1=\beta(\beta^2-1)/6,\quad
 u_2=\beta(\beta^2-1)(\beta^2-4)/120,
@@ -2805,7 +2805,7 @@ and the lower polynomial has first two coefficients
 $U_k=\sum_ju_kB_j$ ($k=0,1$) and last
 \[
 U_2=\sum_ju_2B_j-\tfrac12\sum_{12\nmid j}
-\bigl(u_2B_j+|u_2|\operatorname{diag}(|B_j|_{\rm ent}{\bf1})\bigr).
+(u_2B_j+|u_2|diag(|B_j|_{\rm ent}{\bf1})).
 \]
 A finite integer check (1000 times each $U_k$ is integer-valued with
 consecutive leading determinants positive after subtracting $3I$)
@@ -2813,12 +2813,12 @@ verifies that $U_0,U_1,U_2$ are positive definite; the rounding error
 has $5\times5$ operator norm at most $5/2$, so the exact matrices are
 positive as well.
 
-\emph{Final numerical bound.}  Only $S,F$ survive.  Their symmetric
+Final numerical bound.  Only $S,F$ survive.  Their symmetric
 entries, omitting $2\pi/p$, on the diagonal are
-$(\sinh3x+\sinh x\mp\sinh2x)/\cosh3x$ and off-diagonal
-$(\sinh(5x/2)+\sinh(x/2))\cosh(x/12)/\cosh3x$.  The spatial real
+$(sinh3x+sinh x\mpsinh2x)/cosh3x$ and off-diagonal
+$(sinh(5x/2)+sinh(x/2))cosh(x/12)/cosh3x$.  The spatial real
 kernels are nonnegative off contact (each divided by $p$ is a
-nonnegative mixture of $\cosh(hp)/\cosh(bp)$, $0\le h<b$).  The regular
+nonnegative mixture of $cosh(hp)/cosh(bp)$, $0\le h<b$).  The regular
 diagonal is at least $2\log L$ (each $F^{(0)}$ diagonal is at least
 $1-e^{-x}$ for positive $x$), improving under periodization, so the
 total real pressure from particles is at most $1/(\pi L)$.  The
@@ -2826,67 +2826,67 @@ one-line determinant per length contributes $1/4-1/6+o(1)=1/12+o(1)$.
 The homogeneous log trace per unit length is therefore at most
 \[
 \frac1{\pi L}+\frac1{12}-\frac12+o(1)
-=\frac8{\pi^2}-\frac5{12}+o(1)<\frac{17}{36}<\frac12
+=\frac8{\pi^2}-\frac5{12}+o(1)<(17)/(36)<\frac12
 \]
 using $L=\pi/8$ and $\pi>3$.  This proves the strict spectral bound for
 either sign of the tilt.
-\end{proof}
+
 
 For later use, the spectral-radius formula gives a fixed block length
-$q$ and $\varepsilon>0$ with
-$\|\mathcal T_\pm^q\|\le\exp((1/2-\varepsilon)qS_0)$ for both tilts.
+$q$ and $ε>0$ with
+$\|\mathcal T_\pm^q\|\le\exp((1/2-ε)qS_0)$ for both tilts.
 Continuity of a finite ordered product in operator norm then preserves
 $\exp(qS_0/2)$ for sufficiently close $q$-blocks in the same state
-space and gauge.  Section~\ref{u:core-product} proves this closeness
+space and gauge.  Section~u:core-product proves this closeness
 for the actual tail kernels; the core requires its own estimate.
 
-\paragraph{Localization of the magnetic source.}
-\label{u:magnetic-localization}
+Localization of the magnetic source.: 
+
 
 The homogeneous interval operator is now controlled.  We turn to the
 magnetic source itself, prove the uniform one-particle estimates
 needed to compare its tails with that operator, and retain the
 suppression inside the shorter core.
 
-\paragraph{The magnetic exponent.}  Write $a(s)=\log U_T(s)$ on the
+The magnetic exponent.:   Write $a(s)=\log U_T(s)$ on the
 right contours, in the branch whose bulk log grows from the odd
 primitive in $s+ix_e$; its total winding around the period is zero,
-as in the balanced case (\S\ref{c6:subheading-16}).  On the right,
+as in the balanced case (\Sc6:subheading-16).  On the right,
 the mean $\bar a$ gives $r=-2\bar a$ and scalar $(M_A+M_B)\bar a$; on
 the left retain direct $U_T$ factors with the mean subtracted; on the
 right insert $a-\bar a$.  Completing Cartan nonzero modes as in the
 balanced case yields an extra external scalar
-\begin{equation}
+
 S_a(T)=\frac1T\sum_p\widehat\rho(p){\bf1}^tE(-p)\widehat a(p)
 +\frac1T\sum_{p\ne0}(Q_+(p)-1/h_*)\widehat a(-p)\widehat a(p),
-\label{eq:legacy-P-31}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 and the local height-square becomes
-\begin{equation}
+
 -h_*^{-1}\int(\pi H+ia(s))^2\,ds.
-\label{eq:legacy-P-32}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 The added particle-source nonzero-mode multiplier is
 $-J(-p)^t{\bf1}Q_+(p)$; its simple pole $+2\pi W/(ph_*)$ acting on
 $a-\bar a$ gives the mean-zero primitive of $-i(a-\bar a)$, and
 summing the jumps by parts against $H$ recovers the quadratic in
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-26} together with the mean and test-variance
-pieces kept in \eqref{eq:legacy-P-31}.  The remaining per-particle
-exponent, beyond \eqref{eq:legacy-P-27}, is
-\begin{equation}
-(2c_i-\ell_{\Sigma i})a(s)
-+\!\!\!\!\sum_{\text{orig.\ left member}}\!\!\!\!\log U_T(s+i(\delta_i+b_{i'})L)
+(eq:legacy-P-26) together with the mean and test-variance
+pieces kept in (eq:legacy-P-31).  The remaining per-particle
+exponent, beyond (eq:legacy-P-27), is
+
+(2c_i-\ell_{Σ i})a(s)
++\!\!\!\!\sum_{orig.\ left member}\!\!\!\!\log U_T(s+i(\delta_i+b_{i'})L)
 +b_i'(s),
-\label{eq:legacy-P-33}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 where the $b_{i'}$ are the physical integer offsets and $b_i'$ is the
 Fourier action on $a'$ of the regular symbol
-$[-J(-p)^t{\bf1}Q_+(p)-2\pi W/(ph_*)-(2c-\ell_\Sigma)]_i/(-ip)$.
-Here $Q_+=1/h_*+O(p^2)$ fixes the constant $2c-\ell_\Sigma$, whose
-mean times the counts matches the terms in \eqref{eq:legacy-P-31} and
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-32} via $\int(H-j)=\sum W_ds_d$.
+$[-J(-p)^t{\bf1}Q_+(p)-2\pi W/(ph_*)-(2c-\ell_Σ)]_i/(-ip)$.
+Here $Q_+=1/h_*+O(p^2)$ fixes the constant $2c-\ell_Σ$, whose
+mean times the counts matches the terms in (eq:legacy-P-31) and
+(eq:legacy-P-32) via $\int(H-j)=\sum W_ds_d$.
 
-\paragraph{Period and bend.}  Keep the cell length $S_0$, block length
+Period and bend.:   Keep the cell length $S_0$, block length
 $q$, and spectral margin fixed.  Choose the bend size $\theta_0$ small,
 then transition length $A$ and buffer $g\gg S_0$ large enough to meet
 the slope bounds below; the fixed boundary layers of the product
@@ -2898,25 +2898,25 @@ $2S_0$, and admit $|T-R|<\pi+1$.  Parameterize positions by
 $s=t+iy(t)+(T-R)\chi(t)$, $-R/2\le t\le R/2$, with $y$ periodic,
 real, Lipschitz small, supported outside $|t|>A$, decreasing to
 $-\theta_0L$ by $|t|=2A$, and flat after; here $\chi$ is the analytic
-period adjustment of \eqref{eq:legacy-P-P3}, derivative $O(1/g)$,
+period adjustment of (eq:legacy-P-P3), derivative $O(1/g)$,
 $\chi(\pm R/2)=\pm1/2$, supported within $g/3$ of the ends.  Slopes
 satisfy all smallness requirements.
 
-\paragraph{Uniform one-particle estimates.}
-\begin{enumerate}
+Uniform one-particle estimates.: 
+
 \item $a(s)$ tends exponentially to $a_\pm=\pm6Li$ on $\pm t>0$
 away from $0$ and the period edges, and is bounded; the logs of
-direct multipliers in \eqref{eq:legacy-P-33} tend to these phases
+direct multipliers in (eq:legacy-P-33) tend to these phases
 modulo $2\pi i$ with bounded modulus; and $b_i'$ tends to $0$
 exponentially with $\exp(\Re b_i')$ bounded throughout.
-\item For $D$ and $I_+'$ the real exponent in \eqref{eq:legacy-P-25}
+\item For $D$ and $I_+'$ the real exponent in (eq:legacy-P-25)
 is at most $-c_0M_ge^{-a_0|t|}+O(1)$; the same bound holds for $I_-'$
 when $|t|\ge 2A$, and everywhere the exponent is $O(1)$.  For color
-$A$, the \eqref{eq:legacy-P-25} multipliers tend uniformly to $1$
+$A$, the (eq:legacy-P-25) multipliers tend uniformly to $1$
 outside $|t|\le a_0^{-1}\log d$ and away from the period edges.
-\end{enumerate}
 
-\emph{Proof of 1.}  The product formula and derivative periodizations
+
+Proof of 1.  The product formula and derivative periodizations
 about the two centers are as in the balanced case; direct left offsets
 have no poles along the graph (edge compensator unshifted in
 rapidity).  The short term uses the regular multiplier on the two
@@ -2926,15 +2926,15 @@ $I_-'$, the isolated core log difference under the shift $i\delta_iL$
 has bounded modulus above and is exponentially localized; after this
 subtraction the extra exponent has uniform frequency decay because
 $A_3=-1$.  Contour rotation away from the centers, as in
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-P3}, gives all asserted bounds.  Widths on the
+(eq:legacy-P-P3), gives all asserted bounds.  Widths on the
 unshifted ratios are bounded away from singularities since
 $-3/4\le x_e/L\le1/2$.
 
-\emph{Proof of 2.}  On the basic line the imaginary part of a single
+Proof of 2.  On the basic line the imaginary part of a single
 primitive at argument $t+iLY$ is
 \[
-B(u,Y)=\frac1{2\pi}\operatorname{atanh}
-\frac{4\sqrt3\cosh u\sin(\pi Y/3)}{3+4\sinh^2u+4\sin^2(\pi Y/3)},
+B(u,Y)=\frac1{2\pi}atanh
+(4\sqrt3cosh u\sin(\pi Y/3))/(3+4sinh^2u+4\sin^2(\pi Y/3)),
 \quad u=a_0t,
 \]
 by integrating the explicit density.  Before bending, mix
@@ -2944,10 +2944,10 @@ For $I_+'$ the sign is uniformly positive with size $\ge ce^{-|u|}$
 $D$ the same holds with $Y=1/3+\lambda/2$, by monotonicity and
 continuity.  The remaining cases reduce to bounding
 \[
-\frac{2\pi B}{4\sqrt3\cosh u\sin(\pi Y/3)/(3+4\sinh^2u)}
+(2\pi B)/(4\sqrt3cosh u\sin(\pi Y/3)/(3+4sinh^2u))
 \]
-between $1$ and $\operatorname{atanh}(\sqrt z)/\sqrt z$, with
-$z=4\sin^2(\pi Y/3)/(3+4\sinh^2u)$.  For $D$ with $\lambda\le1/3$,
+between $1$ and $atanh(\sqrt z)/\sqrt z$, with
+$z=4\sin^2(\pi Y/3)/(3+4sinh^2u)$.  For $D$ with $\lambda\le1/3$,
 it suffices that
 \[
 (1-\lambda)\sin(\pi Y/3)-1.33\lambda\sin(\pi(1-Y)/3)>0;
@@ -2956,23 +2956,23 @@ splitting at $\lambda=1/4$ gives $\ge17/600$ for
 $0\le\lambda\le1/4$ (via $\sin(\pi/9)>1/3,\sin(2\pi/9)<2/3$) and
 $\ge337/6000$ for $1/4\le\lambda\le1/3$ (via $\sin(11\pi/72)>9/20$
 and $\sin(13\pi/72)<11/20$), using
-$\operatorname{atanh}(\sqrt z)/\sqrt z<133/100$ for $z\le5/9$ (from
+$atanh(\sqrt z)/\sqrt z<133/100$ for $z\le5/9$ (from
 the series $1+z/3+z^2/5+z^3/(7(1-z))$).  For $I_-'$,
 $Y=\lambda/2\le1/4$, so $z<1/10$ and
-$\operatorname{atanh}(\sqrt z)/\sqrt z<11/10$; then
+$atanh(\sqrt z)/\sqrt z<11/10$; then
 $(11/10)(1-\lambda)\sin(\pi\lambda/6)\le(11\pi/60)\lambda
 <\lambda\sin(\pi/4)\le\lambda\sin(\pi(1-Y)/3)$, giving the negative
 sign with margin $\lambda e^{-|u|}$.  Bending improves these
 comparisons for small $\theta_0$; the primitive limits to $\pm1/2$
 along the real axis and bends add exponentially small errors.
 
-\paragraph{Continuation to the magnetic graph.}  The mode transform is
+Continuation to the magnetic graph.:   The mode transform is
 justified by analytic continuation.  Start at real large $T$ near
 zero rapidities, where the trace and final fusions are pole-free (as
 in the balanced case).  Continue rapidities linearly to the targets
 on the final contours with horizontal projections; absolute
-convergence and neighborhoods follow from \eqref{eq:legacy-P-P3} or
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-30}, since only bounded one-body and at most linear
+convergence and neighborhoods follow from (eq:legacy-P-P3) or
+(eq:legacy-P-30), since only bounded one-body and at most linear
 height perturbations are added.  Split poles initially near the
 fictitious background only for actual remaining residue sites, giving
 meromorphic continuation with a finite product-sum representation;
@@ -2986,16 +2986,16 @@ rapidity divisors removed by real-period regularity near nome zero.
 On the boundary nome circle this supplies a single continued function
 equal to the original trigonometric sum at nome zero.
 
-\paragraph{A bounded product through the core and tails.}
-\label{u:core-product}
+A bounded product through the core and tails.: 
+
 
 Choose $u_0\ge0$ a cell-boundary coordinate within bounded distance of
 $a_0^{-1}\log d$.  On the core $[-u_0,u_0]$, where $\chi=0$, remove
-the scalar $h_*^{-1}\int a^2$ from \eqref{eq:legacy-P-32}, of real part
+the scalar $h_*^{-1}\int a^2$ from (eq:legacy-P-32), of real part
 $-2(2u_0)+O(1)$ since $(6L)^2/h_*=2$.  Redistribute the principal real
 linear tilt on that interval using
 \[
-\int_{-u_0}^{u_0}\operatorname{sgn}(t)H(s(t))\,dt
+\int_{-u_0}^{u_0}sgn(t)H(s(t))\,dt
 =-\sum_{d':\,|t_{d'}|<u_0}W_{d'}(u_0-|t_{d'}|),
 \]
 appearing with positive coefficient $12\pi L/h_*$.  Terms from purely
@@ -3011,13 +3011,13 @@ cost on cells whose real coefficients beyond the reference Gaussian
 tend to zero away from the center after redistribution.  There is no
 winding boundary cost in this telescoping.
 
-\paragraph{Telescoping gauge on the core.}  Every edge kernel is
+Telescoping gauge on the core.:   Every edge kernel is
 uniformly bounded after the scalar removal; we need the product
 through the whole core to be bounded independently of its length.  For
 a core cell let the depth be its minimum distance from the two core
 cuts, truncated below at zero.  Reserve a fixed small fraction of the
 surviving negative point potential $-c_1(u_0-|t|)$: on cell $i$ put
-$p_i(x)=\delta\,\mathrm{depth}_iN_x$ with fixed small $\delta>0$, and
+$p_i(x)=\delta\,depth_iN_x$ with fixed small $\delta>0$, and
 $p_i=0$ on exterior states at the two core interfaces.  If $K_i(x,y)$
 is the outgoing edge kernel, replace it by
 \[
@@ -3029,13 +3029,13 @@ telescope pointwise, including the interfaces where the exterior
 factors are one, so the complete product kernel is unchanged and no
 inverse diagonal gauge is required.  Adjacent cell depths differ by at
 most the fixed cell length, and the unused point suppression together
-with the Gaussian margins of \eqref{eq:legacy-P-30} remains available
+with the Gaussian margins of (eq:legacy-P-30) remains available
 on both incident edges.  Consequently every block with a nonempty
 state at either endpoint has operator norm at most
-$C\exp(-c\,\mathrm{depth})$, where the depth is the smaller of the two
+$C\exp(-c\,depth)$, where the depth is the smaller of the two
 incident cell depths.
 
-\paragraph{Empty-to-empty edges.}  Away from a fixed number of cells
+Empty-to-empty edges.:   Away from a fixed number of cells
 at the central transition and at the two cuts, the empty-to-empty
 block has norm at most $1$.  Indeed, the integer height is constant
 across such an edge, the real reference exponent is
@@ -3046,28 +3046,28 @@ negative quadratic whenever $H\ne0$, and vanishes when $H=0$.  The
 common tangent is flat; remaining scalar phases have modulus one; the
 state gauge cancels; and free Fock propagation is contractive.  Thus
 every complete edge has norm at most
-$1+C\exp(-c\,\mathrm{depth})$ on each of the two core halves outside
+$1+C\exp(-c\,depth)$ on each of the two core halves outside
 the fixed exceptional layers.  For each depth there are only a bounded
 number of cells, so the sum of these errors is bounded; taking the
 product proves a uniform bound on the core operator.  The exceptional
 layers contribute only fixed factors.  We use the redistributed gauge
 only on core cells; the tail operators keep their original gauge.
 
-\paragraph{Tails.}  On each of the two tails outside the core, far
+Tails.:   On each of the two tails outside the core, far
 from its end cuts and the period edges,
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-32}, \eqref{eq:legacy-P-33} and
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-25} converge in the edge-kernel sense, uniformly,
-to the homogeneous kernels with \eqref{eq:legacy-P-29} and phases
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-27}: the undesired $B$-species are suppressed, and
+(eq:legacy-P-32), (eq:legacy-P-33) and
+(eq:legacy-P-25) converge in the edge-kernel sense, uniformly,
+to the homogeneous kernels with (eq:legacy-P-29) and phases
+(eq:legacy-P-27): the undesired $B$-species are suppressed, and
 $A$-points see the chemical limit $1$.  The direct left factors with
-the linear term in \eqref{eq:legacy-P-33} give exactly
+the linear term in (eq:legacy-P-33) give exactly
 $\exp(2a_\pm c_i)$; the pair kernels are unchanged on the interior
 flat cells (their common displacement cancels).  Convergence in
 Hilbert--Schmidt norm as distances increase follows from bounded-state
 truncation and the Gaussian majorants.  Use the block length $q$
-chosen after Lemma~\ref{lem:u-homogeneous-operator}, for which each
+chosen after Lemma~lem:u-homogeneous-operator, for which each
 homogeneous $q$-fold product has norm at most
-$\exp((1/2-\varepsilon)qS_0)$.  Increase the fixed boundary layers
+$\exp((1/2-ε)qS_0)$.  Increase the fixed boundary layers
 until the $q$-fold products of the actual tail edges differ in norm
 from their homogeneous products by less than the available fixed
 margin; they are then at most $\exp(qS_0/2)$.  The boundary layers and
@@ -3077,16 +3077,16 @@ $(R-2u_0)/2+O(1)$ to the logarithm of the product norm; short
 intervals and all remaining boundary layers use the uniform edge
 bounds directly.  In the cyclic trace estimate keep two edges in
 Hilbert--Schmidt norm to use the remaining product bounds.  Including
-the core scalar but excluding \eqref{eq:legacy-P-24},
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-31} and the determinant, the overall log modulus is
+the core scalar but excluding (eq:legacy-P-24),
+(eq:legacy-P-31) and the determinant, the overall log modulus is
 at most
-\begin{equation}
+
 -2R+\tfrac52(R-2u_0)+O(1).
-\label{eq:legacy-P-34}
-\end{equation}
 
-\paragraph{Matching the scalar and the Pfaffian normalization.}
-\label{u:marked-denominator}
+
+
+Matching the scalar and the Pfaffian normalization.: 
+
 
 The interval bound controls the particle integral.  To recover the
 polygon observable we must still match its scalar factors with the
@@ -3094,26 +3094,26 @@ normalizing polynomial $f_N^2$, even when the staircase uses only two
 rapidity values, because those values may have arbitrarily unequal
 multiplicities.
 
-\paragraph{External scalars.}  Uniformly on the circle,
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-24} equals
+External scalars.:   Uniformly on the circle,
+(eq:legacy-P-24) equals
 \[
 \tfrac12\sum_{e,f}I_{g_eg_f}(v_e-v_f)+C_2e^{-2T}+O(1)
 \]
 for a site-data constant $C_2$, where
 \[
 I_{gh}(v)=2q_gq_h\log2+\int_{\mathbb R}\!\!
-[K_{gh}(p)\widehat\rho(p)^2\cosh(vp)-4q_gq_h/p^2]\,\frac{dp}{2\pi}.
+[K_{gh}(p)\widehat\rho(p)^2cosh(vp)-4q_gq_h/p^2]\,(dp)/(2\pi).
 \]
 The subtracted pole all-mode sum is $q_gq_hT/3$.  Contour shifting
 with exponentially bounded tails gives error $O(N^2e^{-a_0\Re T})$,
 picking corrections at poles $\pm2i$, and at most a simple pole at
 $\pm ia_0$ in the color-difference channel.  Then
-\begin{equation}
+
 e^{I_{gh}(v)}=B(v)^2\tan^2(\lambda_bv)
-\begin{cases}1/D(v),&g=h,\\1,&g\ne h,\end{cases}
-\quad B(v)=\frac{\sin(v+b)\sin(v-b)}{\sin v}.
-\label{eq:legacy-P-35}
-\end{equation}
+1/D(v),&g=h,\\1,&g\ne h,
+\quad B(v)=(\sin(v+b)\sin(v-b))/(\sin v).
+
+
 Verification: for real $v$ the multiplier
 $(p/2\pi)K_{gh}\widehat\rho^2$ on $p>0$ is
 $t^2/[(1-t+t^2)(1-t^8)]$ times $1+t^6$ (same color) or $-2t^3$
@@ -3125,13 +3125,13 @@ c_k=-2{\bf1}_{k=\pm3(8)}+2{\bf1}_{k=0(8)}
 +{\bf1}_{g=h}{\bf1}_{k=\pm2,\pm3(8)}.
 \]
 Integrating gives $\sum_k-c_k\log(1-v^2/(kL)^2)$, matching
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-35} by the sine product; the constant follows by
-$v=iV$, $V\to+\infty$, using $I_{gh}(iV)=2q_gq_h(\log2-V)+o(1)$.
+(eq:legacy-P-35) by the sine product; the constant follows by
+$v=iV$, $V\to+∞$, using $I_{gh}(iV)=2q_gq_h(\log2-V)+o(1)$.
 
-\paragraph{The magnetic test scalar.}  Formula \eqref{eq:legacy-P-31}
+The magnetic test scalar.:   Formula (eq:legacy-P-31)
 reduces to
 \[
-\sum_e\log\frac{J(x_e-v_e)}{J(v_e-x_e)}+C_1e^{-T}+O(1).
+\sum_e\log(J(x_e-v_e))/(J(v_e-x_e))+C_1e^{-T}+O(1).
 \]
 The regular test variance costs $O(1)$.  The cross part integrates $a$
 against the shifted periodized densities; the log of the normalized
@@ -3142,15 +3142,15 @@ costs $O(1+Ne^{-a_0\Re T/2})$.  The principal per-background integral
 is the whole-line core-log convolution shifted by $i(x_e-v_e)$.  Its
 derivative has transform
 \[
-2\pi i\widehat\rho(p)\frac{z-z^7}{1-z^8}
-=2\pi i\frac{z^2+z^3-z^5-z^6}{1-z^8},\quad z=e^{-Lp},
+2\pi i\widehat\rho(p)(z-z^7)/(1-z^8)
+=2\pi i(z^2+z^3-z^5-z^6)/(1-z^8),\quad z=e^{-Lp},
 \]
 obtained from the localized coth difference; hence the convolution is
 $\log[J(-is)/J(is)]$ at $s=i(x_e-v_e)$ (matching at $s=0$ by oddness,
 and shifting contours within the strip keeps the two pole sets
 separated).
 
-\paragraph{Determinant scalar.}  Remove $C_2e^{-2T}+C_1e^{-T}$ by an
+Determinant scalar.:   Remove $C_2e^{-2T}+C_1e^{-T}$ by an
 exponential analytic multiplier and use maximum modulus.  The
 two-color transform determinant adds $(3/8)\log N+O(1)$.  For the
 remaining determinant put $\mathfrak d(p)=-\log(1-e(p))$ and use
@@ -3163,49 +3163,49 @@ decaying, the periodization contributes
 $\pi T/(16L)-\mathfrak d(0)+O(e^{-c\Re T})$ as in the two-line case.
 The two square-root factors have constant product.  With
 $\Re T=(3/4)\log N+O(1)$ this gives the stated uniform bound on the
-nome circle.  Formula \eqref{eq:legacy-P-35}, with
+nome circle.  Formula (eq:legacy-P-35), with
 $e^{I_s(0)/2}=\lambda_b/\sqrt C$, cancels the all-positive prefactors
-in \eqref{eq:legacy-P-23} along with the site sum from
-\eqref{eq:legacy-P-31}, leaving exactly $2f_N^{(0)2}$ in the numerator
+in (eq:legacy-P-23) along with the site sum from
+(eq:legacy-P-31), leaving exactly $2f_N^{(0)2}$ in the numerator
 relative to $2f_N^2$, where $f_N^{(0)}$ uses
 $h_0(v)=-\lambda_b\tan(\lambda_bv)/2$ instead of $h$ (also by
 Schur--Pfaffian at shifted variables).
 
-\paragraph{The Pfaffian ratio.}  We need
-\begin{equation}
-\log\bigl(f_N^2/f_N^{(0)2}\bigr)\ge(5/24)\log N-O(1).
-\label{eq:legacy-P-36}
-\end{equation}
+The Pfaffian ratio.:   We need
+
+\log(f_N^2/f_N^{(0)2})\ge(5/24)\log N-O(1).
+
 
-\emph{Shifted comparison.}  Center the variables in $[-L/2,L/2]$ and
+
+Shifted comparison.  Center the variables in $[-L/2,L/2]$ and
 make them distinct (or perturb into a slightly larger interval).  The
 kernels, by their partial fractions, are integrations of
-$-\sinh(vp)$ against the positive-ray pole densities $\nu_0,\nu$ of
+$-sinh(vp)$ against the positive-ray pole densities $\nu_0,\nu$ of
 ratio $R(p)=\nu/\nu_0\ge1$.  Expanding a Pfaffian of size $N=2s$ by
 antisymmetry gives, up to common constants, the integral of the
-alternant on exponents $\pm p_1,\ldots,\pm p_s$ against the
+alternant on exponents $\pm p_1,...,\pm p_s$ against the
 corresponding product measure.  With exponents laid out in pairs the
 alternant has fixed sign for distinct ordered variables, since
 exponential polynomials of $N$ such distinct exponents have at most
 $N-1$ real zeros by Rolle induction.  Jensen then bounds the log
 Pfaffian ratio below by its linear statistic with $g=\log R$ in the
 $h_0$ ensemble, equivalently the log derivative of
-$\operatorname{Pf}(h_0+th_g)$ at zero, where $h_g$ uses pole density
+$Pf(h_0+th_g)$ at zero, where $h_g$ uses pole density
 $g\nu_0$; confluent limits preserve the comparison.
 
-\emph{Uniform $A\log N+O(1)$.}  The doubled linear statistic has the
+Uniform $A\log N+O(1)$.  The doubled linear statistic has the
 form $A\log N+O(1)$, with $A$ independent of the rapidities and of
 the even size $N$.  Put $H_t=[h_0(v_i-v_j)+th_g(v_i-v_j)]_{i,j=1}^N$
 and $C(v)=\prod_j[-i\cot(\lambda_b(v-v_j))]$.  If $\Gamma$ positively
 encircles the sites and initially no other poles,
 \[
-2\Bigl.\frac{d}{dt}\log\frac{\Pf H_t}{\Pf H_0}\Bigr|_{t=0}
-=-\frac{4}{(2\pi i)^2}\int_\Gamma\!\int_\Gamma
+2\Bigl.(d)/(dt)\log(\Pf H_t)/(\Pf H_0)|_{t=0}
+=-(4)/((2\pi i)^2)\int_\Gamma\!\int_\Gamma
 C(v)C(w)h_0(v-w)h_g(v-w)\,dv\,dw.
 \]
 Cancelling common Schur-minor factors gives the undoubled derivative
 $-4\sum_{i<j}r_ir_jh_0(v_i-v_j)h_g(v_i-v_j)$ with
-$r_i=\operatorname{Res}_{v=v_i}C$; the normalized double integral is
+$r_i=Res_{v=v_i}C$; the normalized double integral is
 $2\sum r_ir_jh_0h_g$ because diagonal residues vanish (both kernels
 odd).  Doubling thus gives $-4$ independently of sites and even $N$.
 
@@ -3223,37 +3223,37 @@ intersections (locally absolutely integrable).  The growing vertical
 sides cost
 \[
 \int_0^{a_0^{-1}\log N}e^{-cNe^{-a_0t}}\,dt
-=a_0^{-1}\int_1^N e^{-cx}\frac{dx}{x}=O(1),
+=a_0^{-1}\int_1^N e^{-cx}(dx)/(x)=O(1),
 \]
 and the extra $w$-height unit adds only a bounded factor.  Each
 crossed pole $w=v\pm b$ contributes a constant residue.  This proves
 $A\log N+O(1)$ uniformly in the rapidities, including confluent
 limits (after the usual division by vanishing Vandermonde factors).
 
-\emph{Coefficient $A\ge5/24$.}  At coincidence, twice the linear
+Coefficient $A\ge5/24$.  At coincidence, twice the linear
 statistic is exactly the compressed trace test from the homogeneous
 saturation argument (Taylor row and column differences).  That test
 has lower limiting coefficient $5/24$, obtained there from Fatou and
 the explicit orthogonal polynomial kernel.  Hence $A\ge5/24$, and
-applying Jensen at the shifted sites proves \eqref{eq:legacy-P-36}
+applying Jensen at the shifted sites proves (eq:legacy-P-36)
 with a bounded additive error.
 
-\paragraph{Assembly.}  The log of the normalized marked-polygon mass
+Assembly.:   The log of the normalized marked-polygon mass
 is at most
 \[
--2R+\tfrac52(R-2u_0)+\Bigl(\frac38-\frac5{24}\Bigr)\log N+O(1).
+-2R+\tfrac52(R-2u_0)+(\frac38-\frac5{24})\log N+O(1).
 \]
 Choosing $R=(3/4)\log N+O(1)$ and $2u_0=(3/4)\log d+O(1)$ makes this
 \[
--\tfrac43\log N+\tfrac{15}{8}\log(N/d)+O(1).
+-\tfrac43\log N+(15)/(8)\log(N/d)+O(1).
 \]
 Exponentiation proves the uniform two-edge bound
-\eqref{eq:marked-uniform}.  If the shorter core has only a bounded
+(eq:marked-uniform).  If the shorter core has only a bounded
 number of cells, use the uniform edge bounds there; enlarging the
 absolute constant covers small $d$.
 
-\paragraph{Exterior sewing and finite bridge moments.}
-\label{sec:sewing}
+Exterior sewing and finite bridge moments.: 
+
 
 Everything here uses pure sides (lattice cuts normal to the $n_j$),
 and lengths count visited triangle centres.  The marked-polygon bound
@@ -3261,10 +3261,10 @@ controls two-link events; we first construct exterior connectors, then
 recover their costs by averaging the cuts, and use them to turn the
 two-mark estimate into a second length moment.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Confined crossings and half-plane monotonicity]\label{prop:corridors}
+[Confined crossings and half-plane monotonicity]
 The following statements hold with constants depending only on the
 fixed relative tolerances and pure normals.
-\begin{enumerate}
+
 \item Starting at a mid-edge source with inward normal $n$, one can
 travel in that half-plane to a pure terminal line at distance $s$ whose
 outward normal $m$ makes angle at most $60^\circ$ with $n$, staying
@@ -3276,17 +3276,17 @@ this two-cut domain is $O(s^{-1/4})$.
 \item From one mid-edge source to another on the same pure boundary at
 distance $l>0$, half-plane arches of diameter $O(l)$ have mass
 $\gtrsim l^{-5/4}$; even without confinement the mass is $O(l^{-5/4})$.
-\end{enumerate}
+
 The boundary-to-boundary mass is decreasing as the terminal port moves
 away from the source along one straight side of a convex pure-sided
 truncation, whenever the compared adjacent ports remain on that side.
-\end{proposition}
-\begin{proof}
+
+Proof. 
 For 1, the upper bound is the convex diameter bound.  For the lower
 bound with a turn, choose small fixed $a>0$ in terms of the confinement
 tolerance.  Exit first through the side normal to $m$ in the centered
 triangle of size $s_1$, averaged over $s_1\in[as,2as]$; the deep-exit
-estimate \eqref{eq:deep-triangle-exit} retains mass $\gtrsim s^{-1/4}$
+estimate (eq:deep-triangle-exit) retains mass $\gtrsim s^{-1/4}$
 at depth $\ge$ a smaller fixed multiple of $s$.  Then bridge along $m$
 to the terminal, confined within a tolerance much smaller than this
 initial depth (so the confinement stays inside the initial half-plane),
@@ -3308,15 +3308,15 @@ centered half-hexagon of scale $\asymp l$, the loss from full
 half-plane arches to ends at distances in $[l,2l]$ is small compared
 with their total mass of order $l^{-1/4}$ (by the diameter bound).
 Apply monotonicity inside the truncation.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Two exterior sewing estimates.}
-\label{sec:exterior-sewing}
+
+Two exterior sewing estimates.: 
+
 
 Take a triangular-lattice vertex as origin and pure-support domains
-$D=D(0;\mathbf b)$ with $|b_j-R|\le\varepsilon R$ for a fixed
-$0<\varepsilon\le1/20$; these are convex hexagons with minimum side
-$\asymp R$, and Section~\ref{sec:hexagon-completion} supplies uniform
+$D=D(0;\mathbf b)$ with $|b_j-R|\leε R$ for a fixed
+$0<ε\le1/20$; these are convex hexagons with minimum side
+$\asymp R$, and Section~sec:hexagon-completion supplies uniform
 nesting and central-occupancy estimates for every such domain,
 including independent bounded row roundings.
 
@@ -3346,12 +3346,12 @@ bound.  Fix a chord event of mass $E_h$ in such a bin; its contents
 (such as marked vertices) may be constrained arbitrarily as a
 deterministic event given $h,D_h$.
 
-\begin{proposition}[Exterior sewing]\label{prop:exterior-sewing}
+[Exterior sewing]
 For the nested family, endpoint bin, and deterministic chord event
 just specified, the average $\overline E$ over the level and support
 randomness satisfies, with constants uniform in the event and the
 admissible levels:
-\begin{enumerate}
+
 \item If it requires the use of two fixed internal links, then
 $\overline E\le Cl^{3/4}\mathcal K$, where $\mathcal K$ is the
 single-polygon mass using those links on a cylinder of period vector
@@ -3365,13 +3365,13 @@ interval of size $CR$ containing the required chord event for at
 least one choice of the supports.  Then
 $B^*\ge cR^{-1/2}(l/R)^{C_0}l^{1/2}\overline E$, for universal
 $c,C_0>0$.
-\end{enumerate}
-\end{proposition}
-\begin{proof}
-The two completions are shown in Figure~\ref{fig:sewing}.
+
+
+Proof. 
+The two completions are shown in Figure~fig:sewing.
 \input{figures/sewing}
 
-\emph{Exterior connectors.}  For 1, use a connector strictly in the
+Exterior connectors.  For 1, use a connector strictly in the
 exterior with diameter at most $Cl$, fixed endpoints $p,q$, mass
 available $\ge cl^{-5/4}$.  For 2, append from $p,q$ separate
 exterior paths to the two caps without touching either earlier, also
@@ -3427,7 +3427,7 @@ locations by finitely many $R$-scale legs follows as above;
 uniformity holds even if the rays had coincident limiting starts,
 since their terminal segments are outgoing and separated.
 
-\emph{Averaging intermediate levels.}  Fix one corridor construction
+Averaging intermediate levels.  Fix one corridor construction
 with $D_h,p,q$ fixed.  In both cases, vary each intermediate
 transverse level uniformly over admissible levels, in its own small
 independent window of order the local scale, the terminal pure line
@@ -3443,8 +3443,8 @@ $P=\prod_{j=1}^ks_j^{-1/4}$.  Concatenating the confined crossings
 gives
 \[
 \int Y\,d\nu\ge
-\begin{cases} c^kl^{-5/4}P,&\text{case 1},\\
-c^kP,&\text{case 2}.\end{cases}
+ c^kl^{-5/4}P,&case 1,\\
+c^kP,&case 2.
 \]
 
 For two lists, split each branch at both choices of each varied
@@ -3463,42 +3463,42 @@ cap levels are fixed, their endpoints free, and both final legs of
 scale $\asymp R$.  Consequently
 \[
 \int Y^2\,d\nu\le
-\begin{cases} C^kl^{-5/4}P^2,&\text{case 1},\\
-C^kR^{1/2}P^2,&\text{case 2},\end{cases}
+ C^kl^{-5/4}P^2,&case 1,\\
+C^kR^{1/2}P^2,&case 2,
 \]
 the factor $R^{1/2}$ in case 2 having removed from the second copy of
 $P$ the two factors at the fixed cap levels.  Cauchy--Schwarz gives
 \[
-\nu\{Y>0\}\ge\frac{(\int Y\,d\nu)^2}{\int Y^2\,d\nu}\ge
-\begin{cases} c_1^kl^{-5/4},&\text{case 1},\\
-c_1^kR^{-1/2},&\text{case 2},\end{cases}
+\nu\{Y>0\}\ge((\int Y\,d\nu)^2)/(\int Y^2\,d\nu)\ge
+ c_1^kl^{-5/4},&case 1,\\
+c_1^kR^{-1/2},&case 2,
 \]
 for a fixed $0<c_1<1$.  The number of legs is bounded in case 1, and
 in case 2 at most $C(1+\log^+(R/l))$, so
 $c_1^k\ge c\min(1,(l/R)^{C_0})$ for a fixed $C_0>0$.  These are the
 asserted connector masses.
 
-\emph{Common target measure.}  Trim the exterior choices by fractional
+Common target measure.  Trim the exterior choices by fractional
 indicators to a common lower mass $F\asymp l^{-5/4}$ (case 1) or
 $F\asymp R^{-1/2}\min(1,(l/R)^{C_0})$ (case 2), pointwise for
 $p,q,h,D_h$.  The augmented object is a polygon injecting into the
 cylinder in case 1, or a full bridge in case 2; a fixed cut choice
 recovers the decomposition up to bounded multiplicity since there are
-exactly two boundary crossings.  Let $\Omega$ be the six
+exactly two boundary crossings.  Let $Ω$ be the six
 phase--slope pairs with the product law and $\mu$ critical weight on
 target polygons through the prescribed links (case 1) or target
 bridges satisfying the common deterministic event (case 2), with
 total mass $\le\mathcal K$ or $B^*$.  In a level window $I$ of size
-$\asymp\epsilon l$, let $b_h(\Gamma,\Omega)$ sum the recovered
-ordered decompositions of $\Gamma$ at $\partial D_h$ of the
+$\asympε l$, let $b_h(\Gamma,Ω)$ sum the recovered
+ordered decompositions of $\Gamma$ at $∂ D_h$ of the
 chord-event indicator times the exterior trimming factor, so
 $0\le b_h\le C$; put
-$X(\Gamma,\Omega)=\operatorname{average}_{h\in I}b_h(\Gamma,\Omega)$.
+$X(\Gamma,Ω)=average_{h\in I}b_h(\Gamma,Ω)$.
 Then
-\begin{equation}
-\int X\,d(\mu\otimes\mathbb P_\Omega)\asymp F\overline E,
-\label{eq:sewing-first-moment}
-\end{equation}
+
+\int X\,d(\mu ⊗ \mathbb P_Ω)\asymp F\overline E,
+
+
 where the left side includes the level average and support
 randomness.
 
@@ -3506,22 +3506,22 @@ Choose two levels independently and uniformly in $I$; by symmetry
 integrate over $r<s$, conditioned on the product measure restricted
 to that half-square, plus any diagonal atoms.  This restriction is not
 renormalized: conditional on $r$, the remaining $s$-measure (or its
-rounded atom mass) has density at most $C/l$.  For $\epsilon>0$
+rounded atom mass) has density at most $C/l$.  For $ε>0$
 sufficiently small, a simultaneous event splits into the chord event
-at $D_r$, two exterior bridges crossing the band to $\partial D_s$,
+at $D_r$, two exterior bridges crossing the band to $∂ D_s$,
 and the augmentation from there; keep the trimming factor from the
 latter.  Boundary crossings are unique on the separate branches,
 localized by the depth condition since the boundary moves by at most
-$C\epsilon l+O(1)$.  For bounded $s-r$ or bounded $l$, the indicator
+$Cε l+O(1)$.  For bounded $s-r$ or bounded $l$, the indicator
 at $r$ alone suffices.  Bounding the averaged cost $\Xi$ of the two
 band bridges uniformly conditional on the inner level and phases
 gives
-\begin{equation}
-\int X^2\,d(\mu\otimes\mathbb P_\Omega)\le CF\overline E\,\Xi.
-\label{eq:sewing-second-moment}
-\end{equation}
 
-\emph{The two band bridges.}  Put $g=s-r$.  Fix for each bridge the
+\int X^2\,d(\mu ⊗ \mathbb P_Ω)\le CF\overline E\,\Xi.
+
+
+
+The two band bridges.  Put $g=s-r$.  Fix for each bridge the
 possible target normal in the local facet pair.  Drop all other outer
 cuts, keeping the inner elbow in a local patch with two lateral pure
 trims transversal to both tangent directions containing the bridge
@@ -3550,7 +3550,7 @@ side) and using contour subtraction and the escape upper estimate, the
 bridge cost is $O((1+\min(g,t_i))^{-1/4})$, also by the full positive
 contour when the minimum is bounded.
 
-\emph{Corner gain.}  Put $t=\min_it_i$.  Both tests in $X^2$ use the
+Corner gain.  Put $t=\min_it_i$.  Both tests in $X^2$ use the
 same dyadic endpoint bins: the two inner bins have sizes at least $t$,
 and one outer bin has size of order $t$.  Sum over the finitely many
 choices of that outer endpoint and its facet.  Condition on the six
@@ -3559,7 +3559,7 @@ support position of the selected target facet at $s$.  For any
 attained outer endpoints and supports, integrate the outer completion
 to its constant trimmed mass $F$ and bound the other band bridge
 uniformly after dropping its extra avoidance constraints (even if it
-ends on the unselected adjacent facet; Figure~\ref{fig:sewing-band}).
+ends on the unselected adjacent facet; Figure~fig:sewing-band).
 \input{figures/sewing-band}
 The adjacent facet defining the selected endpoint's corner is
 unconditioned: its position is independent of the selected support,
@@ -3574,15 +3574,15 @@ remains uniform in the averaged parameter, giving
 C(1+\min(g,t))^{-1/2}\min\{1,t/(1+g)\}\le C(1+g)^{-1/2}.
 \]
 Conditional on the gap, $\Xi\le Cl^{-1/2}$ on each window.  Applying
-Cauchy--Schwarz to \eqref{eq:sewing-first-moment} and
-\eqref{eq:sewing-second-moment} yields
+Cauchy--Schwarz to (eq:sewing-first-moment) and
+(eq:sewing-second-moment) yields
 $\overline E\le C\mathcal K\,\Xi/F$ and
 $B^*\ge cF\overline E/\Xi$, proving both assertions.  Averaging over
 windows recombines them.
-\end{proof}
 
-\paragraph{Corner gains and the marked-pair sum.}
-\label{sec:corner-sum}
+
+Corner gains and the marked-pair sum.: 
+
 
 The estimate above suffices for one endpoint bin.  To sum over bins
 with a bounded constant, retain the gain when an endpoint lies near a
@@ -3593,32 +3593,32 @@ the unnormalized gap law on the half-square $r<s$ has density at most
 $C/l$ over an interval of length $O(l)$, uniformly for the rounded
 discrete law.  Splitting at $g=t$ bounds the average by
 \[
-\frac Cl\Bigl(\int_0^t(1+g)^{-1/2}\,dg
-+t(1+t)^{-1/2}\int_t^{Cl}\frac{dg}{1+g}\Bigr)
+\frac Cl(\int_0^t(1+g)^{-1/2}\,dg
++t(1+t)^{-1/2}\int_t^{Cl}(dg)/(1+g))
 \le C_\eta l^{-1/2}(t/l)^\eta
 \]
 for any $0<\eta<1/2$; bounded-gap atoms satisfy the same after
 increasing $C_\eta$.  Keeping this gain in the first sewing estimate
 gives
-\begin{equation}
+
 \overline E\le C_\eta l^{3/4}(t/l)^\eta\mathcal K.
-\label{eq:sewing-corner-gain}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 Indeed, the first moment on the target polygon measure is at least
 $cF\overline E$ and the second at most
 $CF\overline E\,l^{-1/2}(t/l)^\eta$, while $F\asymp l^{-5/4}$.  For
 each smaller corner bin $t$, the larger one has only
 $O(1+\log(l/t))$ possible dyadic values, so their total contribution
-is at most $C_\eta\sum_{j\ge0}(1+j)2^{-j\eta}<\infty$; bins with
+is at most $C_\eta\sum_{j\ge0}(1+j)2^{-j\eta}<∞$; bins with
 $t/l\le\delta$ have total coefficient tending to zero as
-$\delta\downarrow0$.
+$\delta↓0$.
 
-\emph{Marked-pair sum and second chord moment.}  Let $\ell_h$ denote
+Marked-pair sum and second chord moment.  Let $\ell_h$ denote
 the length of a chord in $D_h$, and retain chords of diameter at least
 $R/3$.  Their mass is at most $CR^{3/4}$ and their first-length mass
 at least $cR^{25/12}$: every path through a sufficiently central link
-is macroscopic, and Proposition~\ref{prop:occupancy} with
-Theorem~\ref{thm:nesting} supplies mass at least $cR^{1/12}$ at each
+is macroscopic, and Proposition~prop:occupancy with
+Theorem~thm:nesting supplies mass at least $cR^{1/12}$ at each
 of $cR^2$ such links.  The first-length mass over all chords is at
 most $CR^{25/12}$ by the same identity.
 
@@ -3645,32 +3645,32 @@ injectively; then $N\asymp R$ and
 \]
 With $O(R^2)$ choices of the first centre and $O(d)$ displacements with
 $P_1+P_2=d$,
-\begin{equation}
-\sum_{\text{eligible pairs}}\mathcal K
+
+\sum_{eligible pairs}\mathcal K
 \le CR^2R^{-4/3}R^{15/8}\sum_{1\le d\le CR}d^{1-15/8}
 \le CR^{8/3}.
-\label{eq:marked-pair-sum}
-\end{equation}
-Apply \eqref{eq:sewing-corner-gain} to each pair event; corner bins
+
+
+Apply (eq:sewing-corner-gain) to each pair event; corner bins
 sum with bounded total coefficient, and the separation factors
 $l^{3/4}$ sum geometrically up to $CR$, giving
-\begin{equation}
-\overline{\sum_{\gamma\text{ macroscopic}}\ell(\gamma)^2w(\gamma)}
+
+\overline{\sum_{\gamma macroscopic}\ell(\gamma)^2w(\gamma)}
 \le CR^{41/12}.
-\label{eq:chord-second-moment}
-\end{equation}
+
+
 Bins with $l\le\delta R$ contribute at most
 $C\delta^{3/4}R^{41/12}+CR^{37/12}$; bins with $t\le\delta'R$ have
 arbitrarily small relative coefficient for $\delta'$ small.  These
 are estimates for endpoint restrictions, not assumed corner avoidance.
 
-\paragraph{A positive fraction of long bridges.}
-\label{sec:long-bridges}
+A positive fraction of long bridges.: 
+
 
 Write $M_1$ for the averaged first-length mass of the macroscopic
 chords: $M_1\ge c_1R^{25/12}$.  By Cauchy--Schwarz, a class with
-second moment at most $\varepsilon R^{41/12}$ contributes at most
-$C\sqrt\varepsilon R^{25/12}$ to $M_1$.  Choose $\delta,\delta'>0$ so
+second moment at most $ε R^{41/12}$ contributes at most
+$C\sqrtε R^{25/12}$ to $M_1$.  Choose $\delta,\delta'>0$ so
 removal of close endpoints and small corner bins loses less than a
 quarter of $M_1$; chords shorter than $aR^{4/3}$ contribute at most
 $CaR^{25/12}$, less than another quarter for $a>0$ fixed small.
@@ -3679,7 +3679,7 @@ The retained chords therefore have averaged first-length mass at
 least $c_2R^{25/12}$, with endpoint separation and corner distances
 all bounded below by fixed multiples of $R$, occupying a bounded
 number of bins.  In at least one bin the first-length mass has the
-same lower order; Cauchy--Schwarz and \eqref{eq:chord-second-moment}
+same lower order; Cauchy--Schwarz and (eq:chord-second-moment)
 give averaged ordinary mass at least
 $cR^{50/12}/R^{41/12}=cR^{3/4}$.
 
@@ -3699,14 +3699,14 @@ for every admissible cap separation $hd_0\in[2AR,4AR]$.  For
 arbitrary large $h$, choose $R\propto h$ so the selected caps lie in
 these ranges; admissible rounding changes only fixed constants.
 
-\paragraph{The strip first moment and completion of the proof.}
-\label{sec:strip-first-moment}
+The strip first moment and completion of the proof.: 
+
 
 It remains to prove the first-length upper bound.  In the infinite
 strip, summing occurrences of internal links over bridges from one
 fixed bottom port equals summing the occurrence mass with free bottom
 port over link representatives modulo translations along the strip;
-there are $O(h)$ such representatives.  Proposition~\ref{prop:occupancy},
+there are $O(h)$ such representatives.  Proposition~prop:occupancy,
 first in finite convex truncations and then by monotone exhaustion,
 bounds the occurrence mass at each link by the positive
 enclosing-polygon partitions at its adjacent lattice points.
@@ -3720,7 +3720,7 @@ cylinder.  The disk enclosed by each polygon stays inside its convex
 strip, so cannot contain the mark in the translated strip.  Thus two
 independent systems enclosing corresponding points inject into a
 system separating the antipodal marks.  The bounded-factor cylinder
-estimate of Section~\ref{sec:uniform-nesting} is at most $Ch^{1/6}$,
+estimate of Section~sec:uniform-nesting is at most $Ch^{1/6}$,
 so the square of the strip partition is at most that quantity.
 
 Summing over the $O(h)$ link representatives,
@@ -3728,106 +3728,106 @@ Summing over the $O(h)$ link representatives,
 \sum_{\gamma\in\mathcal B_h}(\ell(\gamma)-1)w(\gamma)\le Ch^{13/12}.
 \]
 The one missing centre per bridge adds only $B_h\le Ch^{-1/4}$,
-completing \eqref{eq:bridge-first-moment}.  The strip mass
-\eqref{eq:bridge-mass} was proved in
-Sections~\ref{c6:strip-transfer}--\ref{c6:strip-asymptotics}, and
-Proposition~\ref{prop:crossings} gives \eqref{eq:bridge-diameter};
-Theorem~\ref{thm:finite-bridges} is complete.
+completing (eq:bridge-first-moment).  The strip mass
+(eq:bridge-mass) was proved in
+Sections~c6:strip-transfer--c6:strip-asymptotics, and
+Proposition~prop:crossings gives (eq:bridge-diameter);
+Theorem~thm:finite-bridges is complete.
 
-\begin{thebibliography}{99}
+{99}
 
 \bibitem{BeatonEtAl2014}
 N.~R.~Beaton, M.~Bousquet-M\'elou, J.~de Gier, H.~Duminil-Copin and A.~J.~Guttmann.
 The critical fugacity for surface adsorption of self-avoiding walks on the honeycomb lattice is $1+\sqrt2$.
-\emph{Communications in Mathematical Physics} \textbf{326} (2014), 727--754.
+Communications in Mathematical Physics 326 (2014), 727--754.
 
 \bibitem{Bogso2014}
 A.~M.~Bogso.
 An application of multivariate total positivity to peacocks.
-\emph{ESAIM: Probability and Statistics} \textbf{18} (2014), 514--540.
+ESAIM: Probability and Statistics 18 (2014), 514--540.
 
 \bibitem{DiFrancescoZinnJustin2005}
 P.~Di Francesco and P.~Zinn-Justin.
 Around the Razumov--Stroganov conjecture: proof of a multi-parameter sum rule.
-\emph{Electronic Journal of Combinatorics} \textbf{12} (2005), Research Paper~6.
+Electronic Journal of Combinatorics 12 (2005), Research Paper~6.
 
 \bibitem{DuminilCopinSmirnov2012}
 H.~Duminil-Copin and S.~Smirnov.
-The connective constant of the honeycomb lattice equals $\sqrt{2+\sqrt2}$.
-\emph{Annals of Mathematics} \textbf{175} (2012), 1653--1665.
+The connective constant of the honeycomb lattice equals $√(2+\sqrt2)$.
+Annals of Mathematics 175 (2012), 1653--1665.
 
 \bibitem{Frenkel1985}
 I.~B.~Frenkel.
 Representations of Kac--Moody algebras and dual resonance models.
-In \emph{Applications of Group Theory in Physics and Mathematical Physics}
-(Chicago, 1982), Lectures in Applied Mathematics \textbf{21},
+In Applications of Group Theory in Physics and Mathematical Physics
+(Chicago, 1982), Lectures in Applied Mathematics 21,
 American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 1985, 325--353.
 
 \bibitem{FrenkelKac1980}
 I.~B.~Frenkel and V.~G.~Kac.
 Basic representations of affine Lie algebras and dual resonance models.
-\emph{Inventiones Mathematicae} \textbf{62} (1980), 23--66.
+Inventiones Mathematicae 62 (1980), 23--66.
 
 \bibitem{GarbaliNienhuis2017Ground}
 A.~Garbali and B.~Nienhuis.
 The dilute Temperley--Lieb $O(n=1)$ loop model on a semi infinite strip:
 the ground state.
-\emph{Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment} (2017), 043108.
+Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment (2017), 043108.
 
 \bibitem{GarbaliNienhuis2017Sum}
 A.~Garbali and B.~Nienhuis.
 The dilute Temperley--Lieb $O(n=1)$ loop model on a semi infinite strip:
 the sum rule.
-\emph{Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment} (2017), 053102.
+Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment (2017), 053102.
 
 \bibitem{GlazmanManolescu2017}
 A.~Glazman and I.~Manolescu.
 Self-avoiding walk on $\mathbb Z^2$ with Yang--Baxter weights:
 universality of critical fugacity and 2-point function.
-\emph{Annales de l'Institut Henri Poincar\'e, Probabilit\'es et Statistiques}
-\textbf{56} (2020), 2281--2300.
+Annales de l'Institut Henri Poincar\'e, Probabilit\'es et Statistiques
+56 (2020), 2281--2300.
 
 \bibitem{GrimmPearce1993}
 U.~Grimm and P.~A.~Pearce.
 Multi-colour braid--monoid algebras.
-\emph{Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General} \textbf{26} (1993), 7435--7460.
+Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General 26 (1993), 7435--7460.
 
 \bibitem{HilgertRilke2008}
 J.~Hilgert and F.~Rilke.
 Meromorphic continuation of dynamical zeta functions via transfer operators.
-\emph{Journal of Functional Analysis} \textbf{254} (2008), 476--505.
+Journal of Functional Analysis 254 (2008), 476--505.
 
 \bibitem{IshikawaOkadaTagawaZeng2006}
 M.~Ishikawa, S.~Okada, H.~Tagawa and J.~Zeng.
 Generalizations of Cauchy's determinant and Schur's Pfaffian.
-\emph{Advances in Applied Mathematics} \textbf{36} (2006), 251--287.
+Advances in Applied Mathematics 36 (2006), 251--287.
 
 \bibitem{KrachunPanagiotis2026}
 D.~Krachun and C.~Panagiotis.
 Quantitative sub-ballisticity of self-avoiding walk on the hexagonal lattice.
-\emph{Annals of Probability} \textbf{54} (2026), 1109--1125.
+Annals of Probability 54 (2026), 1109--1125.
 
 \bibitem{Nienhuis1982}
 B.~Nienhuis.
 Exact critical point and critical exponents of $O(n)$ models in two dimensions.
-\emph{Physical Review Letters} \textbf{49} (1982), 1062--1065.
+Physical Review Letters 49 (1982), 1062--1065.
 
 \bibitem{Segal1981}
 G.~Segal.
 Unitary representations of some infinite dimensional groups.
-\emph{Communications in Mathematical Physics} \textbf{80} (1981), 301--342.
+Communications in Mathematical Physics 80 (1981), 301--342.
 
 \bibitem{TracyWidom1998}
 C.~A.~Tracy and H.~Widom.
 Correlation functions, cluster functions and spacing distributions for random matrices.
-\emph{Journal of Statistical Physics} \textbf{92} (1998), 809--835.
+Journal of Statistical Physics 92 (1998), 809--835.
 
 \bibitem{ZhouBatchelor1997}
 Y.~K.~Zhou and M.~T.~Batchelor.
 Critical behaviour of the dilute $O(n)$, Izergin--Korepin and dilute
 $A_L$ face models: Bulk properties.
-\emph{Nuclear Physics B} \textbf{485} (1997), 646--664.
+Nuclear Physics B 485 (1997), 646--664.
+
+
 
-\end{thebibliography}
 
-\end{document}