diff --git a/manifold/src/backends/index.ts b/manifold/src/backends/index.ts
index a0bea84..d7e30a4 100644
--- a/manifold/src/backends/index.ts
+++ b/manifold/src/backends/index.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export { OscBridgeBackend } from './osc-backend';
 export type { OscBackendConfig } from './osc-backend';
 export { NispsOscClient } from './osc-client';
 export { PassthroughBackend } from './passthrough-backend';
+export { ParticleBackend } from './particle-backend';
 export {
   useBackendManager,
 } from './useBackendManager';
diff --git a/manifold/src/backends/manager.ts b/manifold/src/backends/manager.ts
index 4afe0c2..38cdb24 100644
--- a/manifold/src/backends/manager.ts
+++ b/manifold/src/backends/manager.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import type { BackendId } from '../dock/output-state';
 import { WebMidiBackend } from './midi-backend';
 import { OscBridgeBackend } from './osc-backend';
 import { PassthroughBackend } from './passthrough-backend';
+import { ParticleBackend } from './particle-backend';
 
 /** The slice of EngineApi the manager depends on (keeps it decoupled/testable). */
 export interface ManagerEngine {
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ export class BackendManager {
       ['midi', backends?.midi ?? new WebMidiBackend()],
       ['osc', backends?.osc ?? new OscBridgeBackend()],
       ['synth', backends?.synth ?? new PassthroughBackend('synth', 'Built-in Synth — audio plays in the engine')],
-      ['particles', backends?.particles ?? new PassthroughBackend('particles', 'Particle visualiser')],
+      ['particles', backends?.particles ?? new ParticleBackend()],
       ['cvgate', backends?.cvgate ?? new PassthroughBackend('cvgate', 'CV / gate (via VCV bridge)')],
       ['vcv', backends?.vcv ?? new PassthroughBackend('vcv', 'VCV bridge')],
     ]);
diff --git a/manifold/src/backends/particle-backend.ts b/manifold/src/backends/particle-backend.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fee1ef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manifold/src/backends/particle-backend.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/**
+ * ParticleBackend — the output backend for the Particle System mode (the DEFAULT
+ * mode).
+ *
+ * Transport is a NO-OP: the flow-field visualiser (console/flow-field.ts, driven
+ * by ParticleStage) is a SEPARATE consumer of the engine spine — it reads
+ * `engine.getOutputs()` directly in its own requestAnimationFrame loop and maps
+ * the first 20 outputs onto the visual field. So there is nothing for the
+ * BackendManager to "send" here.
+ *
+ * What this backend DOES contribute:
+ *   - It is a non-synth backend, so selecting it makes the BackendManager gate
+ *     audio (`engine.audio.setMuted(true)`) — the synth is silenced while the
+ *     particles are on screen, exactly like the MIDI / OSC modes.
+ *   - It reports a sensible "ready" status for the Outputs panel.
+ *
+ * It extends PassthroughBackend (the shared no-op sink) purely to keep the
+ * empty-`send` / nothing-to-start behaviour in one place; the audio gate lives
+ * in the manager (`setActive`), not here.
+ */
+import { PassthroughBackend } from './passthrough-backend';
+import type { BackendStatus } from './backend';
+
+export class ParticleBackend extends PassthroughBackend {
+  constructor() {
+    super('particles', 'Particle visualiser — outputs drive the flow field (no audio)');
+  }
+
+  override status(): BackendStatus {
+    return {
+      state: 'ready',
+      message: 'Particle visualiser — outputs drive the flow field (no audio)',
+    };
+  }
+}
diff --git a/manifold/src/console/ConsoleApp.tsx b/manifold/src/console/ConsoleApp.tsx
index f1b9fd5..d910694 100644
--- a/manifold/src/console/ConsoleApp.tsx
+++ b/manifold/src/console/ConsoleApp.tsx
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ import { useEngine, useEngineVersion } from '../engine';
 import { MF_MODES, modeEngineId, seededGradient, shapeValues } from './model';
 import type { MFParam } from './model';
 import { CompositeStage } from './CompositeStage';
+import { ParticleStage } from './ParticleStage';
 import { SplitStage } from './SplitStage';
 import { OutputStage } from './OutputStage';
 import { InputMini } from './InputMini';
-import { ParticleStage } from './ParticleStage';
 import { Manifold } from './Manifold';
 import { ReadoutStrip } from './ReadoutStrip';
 import { VerdictCluster } from './VerdictCluster';
diff --git a/manifold/src/console/flow-field.ts b/manifold/src/console/flow-field.ts
index 2ad27e2..4c2f51a 100644
--- a/manifold/src/console/flow-field.ts
+++ b/manifold/src/console/flow-field.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,23 @@
 /**
  * flow-field.ts — Canvas2D flow-field particle system, a faithful TypeScript
- * port of the a-immersive playground visualiser (`js/ui/visualizer.js`).
+ * port of the a-immersive playground visualiser
+ * (`/home/w1n5t0n/deployments/meml-aimmersive/js/ui/visualizer.js`).
  *
- * Driven by the first 20 model outputs (each ∈ [0,1]); `setParams` maps them to
- * the visual ranges. The simulation advances on its own clock, so particles keep
- * flowing between inferences — only the *field* changes when the MLP outputs do.
+ * FAITHFULNESS (verified 2026-06-28 against the original):
+ *   • 400 particles, identical permutation-table value noise (`PERM`/`noise2D`).
+ *   • The first 20 model outputs (each ∈ [0,1]) map to the visual ranges exactly
+ *     as the original `setParams` (p0..p19 — see the per-line comments below).
+ *   • The advection/attractor/dispersion/repulsor integration in `draw()` is a
+ *     line-for-line port of the original.
+ *   • Deliberate improvements over the original (NOT drift):
+ *       - `resize()` resets the transform before `scale(dpr)` so repeated resizes
+ *         don't compound the device-pixel-ratio scale (the original double-scaled
+ *         on every resize); it also repaints the background so a resize doesn't
+ *         leave stale trails.
+ *       - `draw()` early-returns while the canvas has zero size (pre-layout).
+ *
+ * The simulation advances on its own clock, so particles keep flowing between
+ * inferences — only the *field* changes when the MLP outputs do.
  */
 
 // Simple value noise (no dependencies) — identical permutation scheme to the