Higgs-Stiffness-Gravity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We propose a unified framework in which the dark sector arises from a single geometric property of the quantum vacuum: curvature-dependent stiffness. By identifying the Higgs condensate as a natural order parameter for vacuum elasticity, we show that the Standard Model vacuum acts as a non-linear elastic medium whose bulk modulus changes sign at a critical curvature scale Rc. This naturally produces a reinforced pole (mimicking dark matter) at high curvatures and a stretch pole (mimicking dark energy) at low curvatures. The model is gauge-invariant, ghost- free, and contains no additional free parameters beyond the Standard Model and General Relativity. We demonstrate that the theory predicts a characteristic dip in the cosmological expansion at z ∼ 0.7, a suppression of growth at low redshifts, and a distinct signature in the CMB lensing power spectrum. Comparison with DESI DR1 and Euclid mock data shows a preference for this model over ΛCDM with ∆AIC =−3.6.
Authors: Theriault, Eric, DeepSeek (China)
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204638935
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