Vacuum Hydrodynamics and the Emergence of the Drag Constant

The Standard Model of Cosmology relies on hypothetical entities—Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and Inflation—to bridge theory and observation. The Unitary Loop Framework proposes a mechanical alternative: the vacuum is a viscous fluid medium with Universal Drag Constant H 0. 49. By treating the vacuum as a fluid, we eliminate the need for Dark Matter and Dark Energy. This modified-gravity model derives the MOND acceleration scale a₀ = c H₀ / 2 from cosmological boundary conditions, reproducing the observed a₀ 1. 2 10^-10 m/s². Using an AQUAL-consistent Lagrangian with interpolating function F (y) = 23 y^3/2, the deep-MOND limit recovers the Baryonic Tully–Fisher relation v⁴ = G Mb a₀ without free parameters, with SPARC observations validated via the External Field Effect. The Newtonian-to-MOND transition is grounded in the Unruh effect: accelerations below a₀ trigger a vacuum phase transition to a viscous superfluid regime. Redshift arises from photon drag in this medium, ensuring consistency with Lorentz invariance and cosmological data. The framework extends to geophysics, predicting a seismic precursor lag t₋₀₆ 1/H₀ ₏₇₎₍₎₍ 10⁵ s (approximately 1--2 days) from vacuum-crustal impedance mismatch, aligning with observed ionospheric anomalies. By unifying galactic dynamics, thermodynamics, cosmology, and geophysics under a single falsifiable hydrodynamic relation, the Unitary Loop Framework renders particle dark matter unnecessary.