Abstract (Falsifiable Alternative Gravity Theory; Preprint)
We introduce Density Field Dynamics (DFD): a flat-background, optical-medium framework that matches all existing weak-field tests of general relativity while making sharp, near-term falsifiable predictions. DFD is built on a single scalar “index” field, with refractive index n=exp(ψ)n = \exp(\psi)n=exp(ψ) controlling both light propagation and inertial dynamics. A convex aquadratic (k-essence–like) action yields a non-ad hoc crossover function μ(x)\mu(x)μ(x) that reproduces Newton/PPN behavior in high-gradient regimes and MOND-like scaling in deep fields.
DFD delivers two decisive laboratory discriminators: (1) non-null cavity–atom frequency slopes across gravitational potential differences, arising from mild, sector-dependent scalar dressing of {α,me,mp}\{\alpha, m_e, m_p\}{α,me,mp} in an operationally nondispersive band; and (2) a T3T^3T3 contribution to matter-wave interferometer phases that is even in keffk_{\rm eff}keff and rotation-odd—both within reach of current long-baseline instruments. We also map a bounded family of extensions (electromagnetic back-reaction, dual-sector (ϵ/μ)(\epsilon/\mu)(ϵ/μ) split, nonlocal kernels, weak vector anisotropy, stochasticity, and strong-field closure) that address specific anomalies while reducing to the same core dynamics.
Beyond the lab, DFD embeds a transverse–traceless spin-2 sector with wave speed cT=1c_T = 1cT=1 and GR polarizations, reproduces black-hole/shadow observables via optical geodesics of n=exp(ψ)n = \exp(\psi)n=exp(ψ), and supplies a minimal cosmology module where line-of-sight distance biases map directly to an effective weff(z)w_{\rm eff}(z)weff(z) and predict H0H_0H0 anisotropies, with linear structure growth remaining near-Λ\LambdaΛCDM at z≳1z \gtrsim 1z≳1.
Conservative where tested and bold where testable, DFD places concrete targets—clock ratios, interferometer scaling, shadow systematics, and H0H_0H0–foreground correlations—so the framework can be confirmed or falsified by experiments and surveys now coming online.
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