Light Propagation in the Field: Arcseconds, Fan Effect, and Field Binding

This document examines light propagation as a function of the field tension φ within Tensor Field Dynamics. Core aspects include the retro-calculation of arcseconds, the fan effect in cosmic voids, and topography-bound light aging. Light follows the field structure, gravitational waves follow the direct source-observer path. The observed light delay (e.g., GW170817: Δt ≈ 1.74 s) is interpreted as a geometric consequence of the field paths, not a change in local light speed. The work provides a closed analytic solution for light deflection, derived from the canonical field equation, including effective source strength Seff, coupling to real sources, and consistent mapping to observations (solar deflection α⊙ ≈ 1.75″). The model reproduces the observed deflection without free parameters and is audit-proof, dimensionally consistent, and reproducible.