A Covariant Field Theory of Vacuum Stiffness for Low-Acceleration Gravity (Quantum Vacuum Composite Stiffness Response)

2026/04/28 by Randall Simpson · 1 voice
Physics and Astronomy · #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect

paper · pdf · doi:10.33774/coe-2026-cpwxg-v2

openalex publication_date 2026/04/28 · openalex created_date 2026/04/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14

Abstract

This paper develops the fully covariant field-theoretic formulation of the Quantum Vacuum Composite Stiffness Response (QVCSR), in which low-acceleration departures from Newtonian gravity arise from a nonlinear stiffness response of the quantum vacuum rather than from particulate dark matter. The theory is formulated as a minimal Einstein–scalar system involving a single vacuum stiffness field χ, constructed exclusively from first-derivative composite invariants to ensure ghost-free dynamics and a well-posed Cauchy problem. The interaction sector introduces a unique infrared acceleration scale, a_{\rm QV}, which emerges as the only dimensionally consistent scale in the minimal covariant action and governs the onset of the nonlinear vacuum response.

Discussions

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