Gravitational effects of free-falling quantum vacuum

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model where dark matter-like halos arise from free-falling quantum vacuum fluctuations, fitting galaxy rotation data without needing new particles or modified gravity, and introduces a new vacuum constant T.

Contribution

The model uniquely derives dark matter halos from vacuum fluctuations with a new fundamental constant, fitting galaxy data without modifying Newtonian physics or hypothesizing dark matter particles.

Findings

Successfully fits spiral galaxy rotation curves

Predicts non-spherical, baryon-constrained halos

Introduces a new vacuum constant T

Abstract

We present a model that builds ``dark matter"-like halo density profiles from free-falling zero-point vacuum fluctuations. It does not require a modification of Newton's laws, nor the existence of as-yet-undiscovered dark matter particles. The 3D halos predicted by our model are fully constrained by the baryonic mass distribution, and are generally far from spherical. The model introduces a new fundamental constant of vacuum, T, having the dimensions of time. We deduce the associated formalism from some basic assumptions, and adjust the model successfully on several spiral galaxy rotation data while comparing our results to the existing analyses. We believe our approach opens up a new paradigm that is worth further exploration, and that would benefit from checks relating to other phenomena attributed to dark matter at all time and distance scales. Following such a program would allow the present model to evolve, and if successful it would make vacuum fluctuations responsible for the typical manifestations of dark matter.