# CCT Limited-Probe Handle Discovery — Phase 0

## Result

Both workflows had the same two starting probes, adaptive probe budgets,
observations, equal-drive 32-policy menu, and unrestricted action access.
The CCT kernel included the raw comparator kernel as a zero-blend fallback.

## Development-frozen search models

- CCT parameters: `{"observation_noise": 0.001, "raw_length_scale": 12.0, "structural_blend": 1.0, "structural_length_scale": 1.5, "ucb_beta": 1.5}`
- Raw-GP parameters: `{"observation_noise": 0.02, "raw_length_scale": 12.0, "structural_blend": 0.0, "structural_length_scale": 0.25, "ucb_beta": 1.5}`

## Held-out discovery curves

| Policy probes | CCT mean regret | Raw-GP mean regret | CCT exact-best | Raw exact-best | CCT-minus-raw regret |
|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| 2 | 0.110187 | 0.110187 | 3/12 | 3/12 | +0.000000 |
| 3 | 0.073978 | 0.107321 | 5/12 | 3/12 | -0.033343 |
| 4 | 0.048572 | 0.095846 | 7/12 | 3/12 | -0.047273 |
| 5 | 0.039270 | 0.066043 | 7/12 | 3/12 | -0.026773 |
| 6 | 0.006925 | 0.025513 | 7/12 | 4/12 | -0.018588 |
| 7 | 0.002513 | 0.012429 | 7/12 | 5/12 | -0.009916 |
| 8 | 0.000842 | 0.005761 | 8/12 | 7/12 | -0.004920 |
| 9 | 0.001666 | 0.005761 | 9/12 | 7/12 | -0.004095 |
| 10 | 0.001666 | 0.005761 | 9/12 | 7/12 | -0.004095 |

## Search-burden comparison

- Mean CCT-minus-raw regret-curve area: **-0.016556**
  (case-bootstrap 95% interval **[-0.034291, -0.001752]**).
- FHN mean difference: **-0.000341**.
- LLG mean difference: **-0.032771**.
- Divergent next probes: **93**; CCT probe better / raw probe better / tie:
  **44 / 33 / 16**.

## Numerical audit

- Comparisons: **22**.
- Workflow sign changes: **0**.
- Maximum absolute score change: **0.000195**.
- Audit: **PASS**.

## Decision

Reduced-search advantage: **SUPPORTED**.
Incumbent equivalence: **NOT SUPPORTED**.

## Claim boundary

A positive pilot establishes reduced policy-search burden only inside the declared model families, menu generator, development bank, active-search implementations, and equal-drive probe contract. It does not establish universal algorithmic superiority, hardware advantage, novel physics, or full resource accounting.
