Publications & Preprints
Research
Theoretical physics research on the Intrinsic Response framework, galactic rotation curves, and dark matter candidacy.
Featured Paper
Intrinsic Response Sector as Dark Gravity
A GR-Compatible Candidate Identity for the Cold Dark Matter Role (SPARC-175)
We present a falsification-first, galaxy-domain framework for explaining rotation-curve anomalies without assuming particulate cold dark matter. Working within standard general relativity, we define a response-sector stress–energy Trespμν as the minimal effective source required so that the weak-field metric potentials inferred from kinematics satisfy the Einstein equation with baryons: Gμν = 8πG(T̄μν + Trespμν), where Trespμν is fixed by SPARC mass models. This definition is ontologically agnostic and is best read as an EFT/constitutive-closure candidate.
Applied to 175 galaxies from the SPARC database, the one-parameter closure yields very strong improvement over baryons-only for 92% of systems and passes BIC overfitting rejection in 97%. The baryonic Tully–Fisher relation is recovered as an empirical consequence (Spearman rs = 0.95). A cymatics-inspired extension explores oscillatory signatures in residuals as eigenmodes of a linearized response operator (Appendix D).
New in v5.0.7: Appendix C documents a preregistered cluster morphology operator benchmarked against Hubble Frontier Fields data (Abell 2744 and MACS J0416.1−2403), comparing gravitational lensing convergence κ maps against Chandra X-ray proxies as a Rung 3 discriminant test.
Cite As
Kitcey, R. D. (2026). Intrinsic Response Sector as Dark Gravity: A GR-Compatible Candidate Identity for the Cold Dark Matter Role (SPARC-175) (5.0.7). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18778896
Keywords
Paper Structure (v5.0.7)
Framework Construction
Inverse-GR construction of the response-sector stress–energy. Boundary-layer closure, constitutive model, and three completion routes.
SPARC-175 Results
Data pipeline, fit procedure, and results across 175 galaxies. Global performance (92% / 97%), representative diagnostics, emergent BTFR.
Validation & Falsification
Six-rung empirical validation ladder. Four explicit falsification criteria. The discriminant triad: compression, lensing, cosmological growth.
Lensing & Cosmology
Weyl potential constraint, metric equivalence working hypothesis, gravitational slip discriminant, cosmological background and perturbation viability.
Discussion
Role vs. identity distinction. Discriminants ladder (Branch A & B). Criticism and rebuttal table. Playbook for scientific engagement.
HFF Cluster Benchmark
NEW: Preregistered cluster morphology operator. κ–X-ray centroid comparison for Abell 2744 and MACS J0416.1−2403. Rung 3 discriminant test.
New in v5.0.7 — Appendix C
Cluster Morphology Operator · HFF Benchmark
Rung 3 Discriminant: κ–X-ray Centroid Comparison
Appendix C documents a preregistered cluster morphology operator applied to two Hubble Frontier Fields (HFF) clusters — Abell 2744 and MACS J0416.1−2403 — using public HFF lens-model products from MAST and Chandra imaging from HEASARC. The operator compares gravitational lensing convergence κ maps (multi-team reconstructions) against X-ray proxy maps as a morphology/centroid tracer for the hot intracluster medium.
The preregistered operator is fixed across clusters, teams, and thresholds: Gaussian smoothing (σ = 8″), ROI restriction, 99th/97th/95th percentile thresholding, primary-blob selection, and unweighted centroid measurement. Robustness is quantified across ROI radii ∈ {80″, 100″, 120″} and across all available HFF lens-model teams. At ROI = 100″, Abell 2744 shows a median κ–X-ray separation of ≈ 66–67″ with small cross-team IQR; MACS J0416.1−2403 shows larger cross-team dispersion at higher thresholds, reflecting stronger lens-model dependence.
Scope note: This benchmark uses lightweight X-ray proxy construction (exposure-normalized rate maps) rather than full CIAO event-level reduction. The X-ray product serves as a geometric locator of bright ICM structure for centroid comparisons, not a calibrated surface-brightness measurement. Full six-panel diagnostic figures (κ, X-ray proxy, threshold masks, centroid overlays) are available from the author upon request.
Supplementary Materials
Discussion: A Candidate Identity for the Cold Dark Matter Role
Formal distinction between the CDM role and identity. Presents the discriminants ladder (Branch A & B rung tables), criticism and rebuttal table, and a playbook for scientific engagement with the framework.
Intrinsic Spacetime Framework — Comprehensive Symbol Glossary
Complete symbol glossary covering spacetime geometry, stress-energy tensors, galactic kinematics, response-sector model parameters, and statistical diagnostics. Corresponds to Appendix A of the main paper.
Related Theory
Theoretical Extension
Spacecymatics: The Spectral DNA of the Response Operator
Formal development of the cymatics analogy introduced in Appendix D — eigenmodes, nodal annuli, source–mode overlap, and a spectral taxonomy of galaxy response morphologies.
Research Figures
Figure 1 (Paper Fig. 1)
Intrinsic Response in Galactic Spacetime — baryonic density gradient, transition radius R_t, auxiliary field amplitude Q, and oscillatory metric response.
Figure 2 (Conceptual Schematic)
Radial residual Δ(R) = V²_obs − V²_bar showing compression (Δ > 0) and rarefaction (Δ < 0) zones, nodal radii, and the transition radius R_t. Q_est (robust outer-subset) and Q_best (model-closure fit) amplitude estimators shown.