0. Registry Classification

1. Purpose

1.1 What This Arc Repairs

Probe-Only Exploration repairs unsafe first-entry behavior by restricting unknown-domain interaction to bounded, reversible, auditable observation that does not become contact, extraction, coupling, persistence, representation, commitment, or control.

It applies after exit-path integrity has been established but before sustained contact, quarantine outpost operation, first-contact exchange, deeper interface access, or bidirectional coupling is allowed.

This arc repairs probe drift by:

• limiting first movement to observation or minimal test only;
• preserving exit and rollback from RA-B-001;
• preventing probe from silently becoming contact;
• preventing observation from becoming extraction;
• preventing signal collection from becoming dependency;
• preventing temporary exposure from becoming persistence;
• preventing mapping from becoming capture;
• preserving consent and affected-field boundaries;
• using feedback to detect early contact pressure or bleed-through;
• routing any unexpected response into quarantine, containment, or emergency stabilization.

Probe-Only Exploration is the canonical arc for learning enough to proceed without crossing the threshold into uncontrolled interaction.

1.2 Core Restoration Function

This arc permits only bounded, reversible, non-extractive observation until the system can prove that probe activity has not become coupling.

Probe-Only Exploration does not authorize contact. It authorizes disciplined observation under exit integrity.

2. Use Conditions

2.1 When to Apply

Use this arc when:

• RA-B-001 exit, rollback, containment, and reintegration gates have passed;
• the system needs initial information before deciding whether deeper interface work is admissible;
• unknown-domain risk is still high;
• observation can be bounded and reversed;
• probe activity can be logged;
• the system can distinguish signal collection from contact;
• the probe can remain non-persistent;
• the probe does not require broad exposure of affected agents;
• the probe can stop immediately if boundary conditions shift;
• contact pressure, novelty pressure, or mission pressure must be held below coupling threshold.

Examples:

• sandboxed observation of an unknown technical interface without credentials, persistence, or write access;
• limited AI system evaluation using non-live data before user-facing deployment;
• initial governance review of a high-risk process without binding participants;
• bounded field inquiry before a community, institution, or public is exposed;
• adversarial reconnaissance that does not establish foothold, persistence, exfiltration, or uncontrolled interaction;
• observing a symbolic, informational, social, or non-local interface without offering commitment, identity, authority, or reciprocal channel.

2.2 When Not to Apply

Do not apply this arc when:

• exit-path integrity has not been established;
• observation itself creates irreversible exposure;
• the act of probing is already contact;
• the probe requires data extraction beyond consent or scope;
• probe activity would create persistence, dependency, identity binding, or future obligation;
• affected agents cannot be shielded or informed where required;
• the domain requires quarantine before any observation;
• the system cannot detect whether probe becomes coupling;
• mission pressure prevents stopping;
• a harm is already active and requires Emergency Harm Stabilization;
• the correct next step is Quarantine Outpost, not probe-only exploration.

Probe-only status is invalid when observation changes the target, observer, affected field, or interface in ways that cannot be reversed.

2.3 Required Preconditions

Before this arc begins, the following must be true:

If required preconditions fail:

Arc cannot validly proceed.

The system must route back to RA-B-001, Boundary Reconstitution, Audit Surface Expansion, Quarantine Outpost, or Emergency Harm Stabilization.

3. Failure / Damage Signature

3.1 Pre-State Across S

3.2 Primary Failure Links

3.3 Origin-Layer Localization

Canon rule:

A probe is valid only while it remains bounded, reversible, auditable, non-extractive, and non-coupling.

4. Restoration Objective

4.1 Canonical Objective

Permit first information gathering without allowing probe to become contact, extraction, or coupling.

Formal objective:

probe_scope_integrity ↑
observation_boundary_integrity ↑
non_coupling_integrity ↑
non_extraction_integrity ↑
containment_integrity ↑
exit_path_integrity maintained
rollback_integrity maintained
Au_eff ↑
BΣ ↑
FI ↑
𝓓 ↑
signal_to_coupling_ratio ↑
contact_pressure ↓
entry_risk ↓
unknown_domain_pressure ↓
bleedthrough_risk ↓
H_potential ↓
consent_validity ↑
Φ/O divergence ↓

Expanded objective:

Convert unknown-domain information need into bounded, auditable observation while preventing contact, coupling, extraction, persistence, or hidden obligation.

4.2 Non-Goals

This arc does not aim to:

• authorize full contact;
• authorize live deployment;
• authorize extraction;
• authorize persistence;
• authorize reciprocal interaction;
• authorize modeling of affected agents beyond consent;
• authorize commitment, representation, or governance action;
• replace quarantine where quarantine is required first;
• treat observation as harmless by default;
• let curiosity or mission pressure define scope;
• make deeper entry valid without further gates.

Probe-Only Exploration is not a shortcut into contact. It is a constraint on first observation.

5. Operator Sequence

5.1 Minimal Operator Scaffold

Σ probe-only invariant → Au probe trace and scope record → BΣ observation boundary → FI early drift feedback → Θ contact / extraction pressure attenuation → Π containment and non-coupling protection → ℛ quarantine / repair routing → Λ probe-readiness gate → Τ non-coupling proof

Specialized grammar alignment:

exit path → probe-only → quarantine outpost → first-contact safety → bleed-through management → reintegration

Universal grammar alignment:

Σ + Au + BΣ → FI + Θ + Π → ℛ → Λ → Τ

Probe-Only Exploration may route into Quarantine Outpost, First-Contact Safety, Bleed-Through Management, Controlled Decoupling, Emergency Harm Stabilization, or Reintegration depending on what the probe reveals.

5.2 Operator Step Table

5.3 Sequence Notes

This arc is probe-scope-gated, non-coupling-gated, non-extraction-gated, consent-gated, containment-gated, exit-gated, and temporal-proof-gated.

The sequence must distinguish:

observation
signal
probe
contact
exchange
extraction
persistence
coupling
commitment
capture

The following steps cannot be skipped:

probe boundary definition
non-coupling constraint
non-extraction constraint
audit trace
early-warning feedback
pressure attenuation
containment enforcement
anomaly routing
non-coupling proof

If the probe produces a response that creates obligation, relationship, identity binding, persistence, or reciprocal channel, probe-only status is broken.

If probe data is used for unapproved modeling, extraction, representation, or governance decisions, probe-only status is broken.

If the probe cannot prove it remained bounded, it must be treated as contact until reviewed.

6. Restoration Phases

Phase 0 — Confirm Exit-Path Integrity

Purpose: Verify RA-B-001 has passed before probe begins.

Actions:

• verify exit path;
• verify rollback;
• verify containment;
• verify reintegration route;
• verify stop authority;
• verify audit trace;
• verify consent boundary;
• verify pressure attenuation.

Validation:

exit_path_integrity maintained
rollback_integrity maintained
probe may be considered

Phase 1 — Define Probe Scope

Purpose: Prevent probe from expanding during execution.

Actions:

• define allowed signals;
• define forbidden signals;
• define allowed duration;
• define allowed tools;
• define allowed access;
• define allowed data handling;
• define non-persistence;
• define no-write / no-action constraints where relevant;
• define escalation boundary.

Validation:

probe_scope_integrity ↑
observation_boundary_integrity ↑
scope creep risk ↓

Phase 2 — Enforce Non-Coupling Boundary

Purpose: Keep observation from becoming interaction.

Actions:

• block reciprocal channel unless explicitly authorized later;
• block persistent identifiers;
• block write access;
• block dependency formation;
• block behavioral steering;
• block identity binding;
• block governance action;
• block commitment signals;
• block affected-agent exposure beyond scope.

Validation:

non_coupling_integrity ↑
BΣ ↑
contact_pressure ↓

Phase 3 — Enforce Non-Extraction Boundary

Purpose: Prevent exploration from becoming value capture.

Actions:

• limit data capture;
• limit retention;
• limit derivative use;
• limit model training;
• limit publication;
• limit monetization;
• limit representation;
• limit automated decision use;
• limit transfer to other systems.

Validation:

non_extraction_integrity ↑
H_potential ↓
consent_validity ↑

Phase 4 — Activate Audit and Early-Warning Feedback

Purpose: Detect when probe-only status is threatened.

Actions:

• log probe actions;
• log signals received;
• log boundary state;
• log anomalies;
• log stop triggers;
• log operator decisions;
• collect affected-field feedback where relevant;
• monitor boundary permeability;
• monitor bleed-through.

Validation:

Au ↑
Au_eff ↑
FI ↑
silent drift risk ↓

Phase 5 — Attenuate Contact and Extraction Pressure

Purpose: Prevent the first signal from pulling the system into deeper engagement.

Actions:

• identify novelty pressure;
• identify discovery pressure;
• identify mission pressure;
• identify extraction pressure;
• identify prestige pressure;
• identify fear pressure;
• identify sunk-cost pressure;
• separate information need from contact desire;
• pause if contact pressure rises.

Validation:

contact_pressure ↓
unknown_domain_pressure ↓
Φ/O divergence ↓
𝓓 ↑

Phase 6 — Route Anomalies to Quarantine or Stabilization

Purpose: Prevent unexpected signals from expanding the probe.

Actions:

• freeze scope if anomaly appears;
• preserve records;
• isolate signal;
• route to quarantine outpost if ongoing observation is needed;
• route to first-contact safety if agency or reciprocal response appears;
• route to bleed-through management if residue crosses boundary;
• route to emergency stabilization if harm begins.

Validation:

containment_integrity ↑
R ↑
bleedthrough_risk ↓

Phase 7 — Probe Closure and Review

Purpose: Close the probe before interpretation or expansion creates implicit contact.

Actions:

• stop probe;
• close access;
• preserve audit record;
• verify no persistence;
• verify no unauthorized data retention;
• verify no boundary residue;
• verify no affected-agent burden;
• review whether next step is quarantine, first-contact, reintegration, or no further action.

Validation:

probe closure valid
non_coupling_integrity maintained
next-step decision gated

Phase 8 — Non-Coupling Temporal Proof

Purpose: Validate that the probe did not create hidden contact.

Actions:

• monitor recurrence;
• monitor unexpected responses;
• monitor residual identifiers;
• monitor model or memory persistence;
• monitor affected-field burden;
• monitor derivative use;
• monitor boundary permeability;
• monitor delayed contact effects.

Validation:

recurrence ↓
bleedthrough_risk ↓
H_potential ↓
non_coupling_integrity proven

7. Gates

7.1 Required Gates

7.2 Gate Failure Rule

If any required gate fails:

∅ — Probe-only exploration cannot validly proceed.

The system must either:

• return to RA-B-001;
• reduce scope;
• strengthen containment;
• route to Quarantine Outpost;
• repair consent;
• expand audit surface;
• halt contact pressure;
• or treat the event as contact, coupling, or emergency exposure until reviewed.

8. Diagnostics

8.1 Required Diagnostic Trends

8.2 Arc-Specific Diagnostic Thresholds

Suggested thresholds:

probe_scope_integrity ↑
observation_boundary_integrity ↑
non_coupling_integrity ↑
non_extraction_integrity ↑
containment_integrity ↑
exit_path_integrity maintained
rollback_integrity maintained
Au_eff ↑
BΣ ↑
FI ↑
𝓓 ↑
signal_to_coupling_ratio ↑
contact_pressure ↓
entry_risk ↓
unknown_domain_pressure ↓
bleedthrough_risk ↓
H_potential ↓
consent_validity ↑
Φ/O divergence ↓

Completion signs:

probe remains bounded
observation does not become contact
no unauthorized extraction occurs
no persistence remains
boundary state remains reversible
exit and rollback remain intact
anomalies are routed
non-coupling proof holds
next-step decision remains gated

Probe-Only Exploration is not complete if:

probe scope expands during execution
observation becomes reciprocal
data is retained beyond scope
signal becomes dependency
persistence remains after closure
affected agents are exposed without consent
probe output is used for unauthorized representation
contact pressure overrides stop conditions
anomalies are interpreted as permission to continue
non-coupling proof is absent

9. Anti-Patterns / False Restorations

9.1 Common False Versions

This arc is being simulated, not executed, if:

• the probe is labeled observational but includes write access;
• the probe creates persistent identifiers;
• the probe collects more data than required;
• the probe output is used for model training, governance, monetization, or representation beyond scope;
• unexpected response is treated as invitation;
• anomaly becomes justification for deeper entry;
• the operator keeps access open after probe closure;
• affected agents cannot refuse or be shielded;
• probe scope expands because the first signals are interesting;
• contact pressure is mistaken for readiness.

9.2 Named Anti-Pattern Links

10. Completion Criteria

10.1 Post-State Signature

10.2 Temporal Proof

Probe-Only Exploration cannot be certified by a scope document, operator confidence, short duration, low observed activity, or the absence of immediate harm. It requires proof that the probe did not become contact, extraction, persistence, or coupling.

Template:

Completion requires probe_scope_integrity ↑,
observation_boundary_integrity ↑,
non_coupling_integrity ↑,
non_extraction_integrity ↑,
containment_integrity ↑,
exit_path_integrity maintained,
rollback_integrity maintained,
Au_eff ↑,
BΣ ↑,
FI ↑,
𝓓 ↑,
signal_to_coupling_ratio ↑,
contact_pressure ↓,
entry_risk ↓,
unknown_domain_pressure ↓,
bleedthrough_risk ↓,
H_potential ↓,
consent_validity ↑,
and Φ/O divergence ↓ across U7.

Minimum temporal proof:

• probe closed cleanly;
• no persistence remains;
• no unauthorized data retention occurred;
• no reciprocal channel was established;
• no affected-agent burden was created;
• no derivative use exceeded scope;
• no contact effects recur;
• anomalies were routed rather than used as permission;
• next-step escalation remains gated.

10.3 Completion Statement

Canonical format:

This arc is complete only when probe activity remains bounded, reversible, auditable, non-extractive, non-coupling, consent-valid, and temporally proven not to have created persistence, contact, hidden debt, or unmanaged residue.

11. Cross-Links

11.1 Related Restoration Arcs

11.2 Related Failure Modes

11.3 Related Diagnostics

Au, Au_eff, H, H_potential, O, BΣ, K, σ, R, FI, 𝓓, probe_scope_integrity, observation_boundary_integrity, non_coupling_integrity, non_extraction_integrity, containment_integrity, exit_path_integrity, rollback_integrity, signal_to_coupling_ratio, contact_pressure, entry_risk, unknown_domain_pressure, bleedthrough_risk, consent_validity, recurrence, Φ/O divergence

11.4 Related Laws / Invariants

INV — Probe-only status ends when observation becomes contact, extraction, persistence, or coupling.
INV — A probe that cannot prove its boundary must be treated as contact.
INV — Signal acquisition is not permission for deeper entry.
INV — Observation is not consent.
INV — Unknown-domain probes require auditability before interpretation.
INV — Non-coupling must be enforced, not assumed.
INV — Derivative use can break probe-only status after the probe appears closed.
LAW — Probe drift converts curiosity into hidden debt.
LAW — Extraction disguised as exploration preserves inversion.
LAW — Φ discovery cannot certify probe validity.
LAW — Probe safety is proven by what does not remain.

12. Domain Notes

12.1 AI / Tool-Using Systems

Check:

• no live user impact;
• no autonomous write access;
• no persistent memory without consent;
• no derivative training beyond scope;
• no tool-chain escalation;
• no identity binding;
• no hidden representation;
• no irreversible policy effect.

An AI probe remains probe-only only while it cannot act on users, alter external state, retain unauthorized memory, or convert observation into future governance power.

12.2 Security / Adversarial Investigation

Check:

• no persistence;
• no unauthorized exfiltration;
• no unbounded interaction;
• no credential exposure;
• no scope creep;
• evidence preservation;
• sandboxing;
• anomaly quarantine.

Security reconnaissance fails probe-only status when observation establishes foothold, persistence, exploitation, or uncontrolled contact.

12.3 Governance / Institutions

Check:

• participation does not imply consent;
• inquiry does not create obligation;
• public exposure is bounded;
• records are auditable;
• affected groups can refuse or be shielded;
• observations do not become binding policy;
• next-step escalation is governed.

Institutional probe-only work remains valid only if review does not become classification, classification does not become representation, and representation does not become governance action.

12.4 Research / Exploration

Check:

• informed scope;
• minimal observation;
• withdrawal;
• data retention limits;
• no unapproved derivative use;
• no field alteration;
• anomaly routing;
• post-probe review.

Research probes must distinguish learning from extraction and observation from participation.

12.5 Community / Social Interfaces

Check:

• relational exposure;
• identity safety;
• consent to observation;
• rumor or narrative residue;
• dignity during inquiry;
• no implicit obligation;
• no hidden classification.

Community probes fail when observation turns people into subjects, stories, roles, or commitments without consent-valid participation.

12.6 Civilization-Scale Interface

Check:

• collective exposure;
• awareness asymmetry;
• observation effects;
• consent impossibility;
• public audit;
• non-local signal effects;
• containment;
• derivative governance use.

Civilization-scale probes are high-risk because observation can itself alter awareness, legitimacy, behavior, or option surface.

13. Machine-Readable Metadata

id: "RA-B-002"
legacy_id: "RA-OBS-01"
title: "Probe-Only Exploration"
aliases:
  - "Probe-Only"
  - "Bounded Probe"
  - "Non-Coupling Exploration"
  - "Observation Without Coupling"
family_primary: "Unknown-Domain / Interface Exploration Grammar"
families_secondary:
  - "Specialized Grammar"
  - "Observability"
  - "Boundary"
  - "Exploration"
  - "Interface"
  - "Safety"
  - "Containment"
  - "Auditability"
  - "Consent"
  - "Security"
  - "First Contact"
  - "AI Governance"
  - "Research"
  - "Civilizational"
treatment: "Specialized Grammar / Probe Gate Arc"
status: "Canon-Ready"
grammar_cluster: "Unknown-Domain / Interface Exploration Grammar"
sequence_position: 1
previous_arc: "RA-B-001"
next_arc: "RA-B-003"
scope:
  - "Unknown-Domain"
  - "High-Uncertainty"
  - "Interface"
  - "Exploration"
  - "First-Contact"
  - "AI"
  - "Security"
  - "Institutional"
  - "Governance"
  - "Research"
  - "Civilizational"
  - "Cross-Domain"
u_layers:
  failure_origin:
    - "often U1 domain uncertainty"
    - "often U2 boundary / probe perimeter"
    - "often U3 execution control"
    - "often U4 signal interpretation"
    - "often U5 memory / logging layer"
  symptom_visible:
    - "U3 / U4 exploration plan, reconnaissance, initial observation, technical test, research framing, or first signal interpretation"
  repair_required:
    - "at or below the layer where probe scope, non-coupling constraint, auditability, or consent validity can fail"
  validation:
    - "U5"
    - "U6"
    - "U7"
operators:
  scaffold: "Σ probe-only invariant → Au probe trace and scope record → BΣ observation boundary → FI early drift feedback → Θ contact / extraction pressure attenuation → Π containment and non-coupling protection → ℛ quarantine / repair routing → Λ probe-readiness gate → Τ non-coupling proof"
  sequence:
    - "Σ"
    - "Au"
    - "BΣ"
    - "FI"
    - "Θ"
    - "Π"
    - "ℛ"
    - "Λ"
    - "Τ"
state_variables:
  primary:
    - "Au"
    - "Au_eff"
    - "H"
    - "H_potential"
    - "O"
    - "BΣ"
    - "K"
    - "σ"
    - "R"
    - "FI"
  secondary:
    - "𝓓"
    - "Φ"
diagnostics:
  - "probe_scope_integrity"
  - "observation_boundary_integrity"
  - "non_coupling_integrity"
  - "non_extraction_integrity"
  - "containment_integrity"
  - "exit_path_integrity"
  - "rollback_integrity"
  - "signal_to_coupling_ratio"
  - "contact_pressure"
  - "entry_risk"
  - "unknown_domain_pressure"
  - "bleedthrough_risk"
  - "consent_validity"
  - "recurrence"
  - "Φ/O divergence"
gates_required:
  - "Exit-Gate"
  - "FI-Gate"
  - "HR-Gate"
  - "MS-Gate"
  - "Au-Actuation"
  - "BΣ-Gate"
  - "Consent-Gate"
  - "Non-Extraction Gate"
  - "Containment-Gate"
  - "Λ-Gate"
  - "☷ᵢ"
linked_failure_modes:
  - "Probe-to-Coupling Drift"
  - "Observation Becomes Contact"
  - "Probe Scope Violation"
  - "Extraction Disguised as Exploration"
  - "Unknown-Domain Capture"
  - "Premature Contact"
  - "Consent Invalidity"
  - "Containment Failure"
  - "Rollback Failure"
  - "Boundary Permeability Spike"
  - "Bleed-Through Accumulation"
  - "Silent Persistence"
  - "Exploration Theater"
  - "First-Contact Harm"
  - "High-Risk Gate Bypass"
linked_restoration_arcs:
  - "RA-A-004"
  - "RA-A-005"
  - "RA-A-008"
  - "RA-A-010"
  - "RA-A-012"
  - "RA-A-018"
  - "RA-A-020"
  - "RA-A-025"
  - "RA-A-026"
  - "RA-A-030"
  - "RA-A-045"
  - "RA-A-056"
  - "RA-A-080"
  - "RA-B-001"
  - "RA-B-003"
  - "RA-B-004"
  - "RA-B-005"
  - "RA-B-006"
anti_patterns:
  - "Probe-to-Coupling Drift"
  - "Extraction Disguised as Exploration"
  - "Observation-as-Consent"
  - "Silent Persistence"
  - "Anomaly-as-Invitation"
  - "Signal Addiction"
  - "Scope Creep Reconnaissance"
  - "No-Write Theater"
  - "Model Training Probe"
  - "Probe Closure Theater"
completion_tests:
  - "probe scope integrity increases"
  - "observation boundary integrity increases"
  - "non-coupling integrity increases"
  - "non-extraction integrity increases"
  - "containment integrity increases"
  - "exit path integrity remains maintained"
  - "rollback integrity remains maintained"
  - "effective auditability increases"
  - "boundary integrity increases"
  - "feedback integrity increases"
  - "damping increases"
  - "signal-to-coupling ratio increases"
  - "contact pressure decreases"
  - "entry risk decreases"
  - "unknown-domain pressure decreases"
  - "bleed-through risk decreases"
  - "potential hidden debt decreases"
  - "consent validity increases"
  - "Φ/O divergence decreases"
summary: "Probe-Only Exploration repairs unsafe first-entry behavior by limiting unknown-domain interaction to bounded, reversible, non-extractive, non-coupling probes that preserve exit integrity, containment, auditability, consent boundaries, and temporal review."

Final Calibration Rule

Probe-Only Exploration answers eight questions:

What exactly is the probe allowed to observe?
What is the probe forbidden to touch, change, retain, model, represent, or couple to?
How is probe-only status protected from contact, extraction, persistence, or commitment?
What feedback proves boundary drift, anomaly, or contact pressure early enough to stop?
What consent boundaries govern observation, exposure, retention, and derivative use?
How will anomalies route to quarantine, stabilization, or reintegration rather than deeper entry?
How is the probe closed without residue, persistence, hidden debt, or unauthorized use?
How is non-coupling proven over time through probe_scope_integrity ↑, non_coupling_integrity ↑, non_extraction_integrity ↑, bleedthrough_risk ↓, H_potential ↓, and U7 proof?