CIPA v6.0: Collective Interference-based Phenomenological Alignment — A Regularized Nonlocal Structural Response Model for Galactic Dynamics, Scaling Relations, and Lensing Consistency

Title CIPA v6.0: Collective Interference-based Phenomenological Alignment — A Regularized Nonlocal Structural Response Model for Galactic Dynamics, Scaling Relations, and Lensing Consistency Description This record documents CIPA v6.0, the current working version of the Collective Interference-based Phenomenological Alignment framework. CIPA is formulated as a phenomenological, nonlocal effective model in which baryonic matter sources an additional collective structural response. CIPA v6.0 does not introduce an explicit non-baryonic particle halo. Instead, it investigates whether a baryon-sourced, nonlocal structural response can reproduce key phenomenology commonly attributed to dark matter, including galactic rotation-curve behavior, empirical scaling relations, and minimal lensing consistency constraints. Key Empirical and Theoretical Elements in v6.0 Regularized Nonlocal Potential Framework:CIPA v6.0 reformulates the model around an effective potential structure rather than only a velocity-level phenomenology. The CIPA contribution is modeled as a regularized nonlocal response to the baryonic surface-density distribution. Corrected Sign and Force Convention:This version explicitly fixes the potential, force, and circular-velocity sign conventions. The CIPA response is defined so that the additional structural response contributes attractively in the physically relevant galactic regime. D8 Fast Test Model:A simplified D8 branch is retained as a fast phenomenological screening model for SPARC-style rotation-curve tests. It provides a controlled approximation for exploring global parameter families before applying the full structural kernel. D16 Regularized Bessel-Kernel Model:The more physical D16 branch introduces a finite-range regularized Bessel-kernel response. The corresponding static response operator is positive under the required scale ordering, providing an important consistency condition for the nonlocal structural response. Emergent Scaling Relations:In the intermediate galactic regime, CIPA v6.0 naturally yields behavior compatible with baryonic Tully-Fisher-like and radial-acceleration-relation-like scaling. These relations are treated as falsifiable consequences of the model rather than imposed fitting constraints. SPARC Test Strategy:CIPA v6.0 includes a structured SPARC benchmark protocol. The proposed test strategy separates global model parameters from galaxy-specific nuisance parameters and requires comparison against Newtonian baryons-only fits, MOND/RAR-type relations, NFW halos, and Burkert halos using chi-square statistics, AIC, BIC, RAR scatter, BTFR residuals, and success-rate statistics. Minimal Lensing Consistency:The model defines a minimal lensing branch in which the same effective potential used for galactic dynamics is also used for weak-field light deflection. This produces an approximately isothermal lensing behavior in the intermediate regime. It is presented as a falsifiable consistency condition, not as a complete relativistic lensing theory. Explicit Falsification Criteria:CIPA v6.0 defines hard failure conditions, including negative structural velocity contributions in the physical branch, loss of a universal acceleration scale, failure to reproduce RAR/BTFR behavior, systematic SPARC instability, or incompatibility between rotation-derived potentials and lensing amplitudes. Falsifiability and Scientific Position CIPA v6.0 remains a phenomenological framework under active investigation. It is intended as a documented working model, not as a completed replacement for Lambda-CDM or General Relativity. The framework is falsifiable through: SPARC Rotation Curves:Failure to reproduce a significant fraction of SPARC rotation curves with stable global or tightly constrained parameter families. RAR and BTFR Consistency:Failure of a common acceleration scale to reproduce both the radial acceleration relation and baryonic Tully-Fisher normalization. Lensing Consistency:Failure of the rotation-derived CIPA potential to produce compatible weak-lensing amplitudes and radial profiles without adding an independent lensing normalization factor. Parameter Instability:Requirement of galaxy-by-galaxy CIPA parameters without a clear physical scaling relation. Cluster-Scale Challenges:Future tests against cluster-scale systems and mass-separation phenomena such as the Bullet Cluster. These are not claimed to be solved by v6.0 and likely require a dynamical or time-memory extension beyond the static galactic model. Limitations CIPA v6.0 is not yet a complete replacement for Lambda-CDM. It currently lacks: a complete covariant field theory, a derived nonlocal stress-energy tensor, a full relativistic lensing solution, a cosmological background evolution, predictions for the Cosmic Microwave Background, predictions for large-scale structure formation, a completed dynamical treatment of cluster mergers, and a quantum formulation. The model should therefore be understood as a classical, effective, falsifiable working framework for galactic dynamics and minimal lensing consistency. Version Info v6.0 — May 2026 This version introduces the regularized nonlocal structural-response formulation, corrected potential and force sign conventions, D8 and D16 model branches, mathematical consistency checks, hard falsification criteria, a SPARC test protocol, and a minimal lensing-consistency framework. Author Maximilian BirrIndependent ResearcherGermering, Germanymaximilian.birr@icloud.com