The Elastic Universe Thesis: Dark Matter as Substrate, Dark Energy as Recoil

The Elastic Universe Thesis introduces a unifying cosmological framework in which dark matter and dark energy are dual manifestations of a single elastic cosmic substrate. Dark matter represents the compressive phase of the substrate, storing elastic energy, while dark energy emerges as recoil once critical thresholds are reached. This recoil splits primordial heavy atoms, producing radiation consistent with the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and accelerating galactic rotation. The model predicts cyclic cosmology, with each recoil event triggering a new expansion phase analogous to a Big Bang. The thesis develops the mathematical formalism, outlines limits and assumptions, and provides a calibration example showing that the model can reproduce the observed Hubble constant. Figures illustrate recoil splitting, galaxy rotation curves, and multi‑plane expansion anisotropies. By reframing dark matter and dark energy as phases of a single substrate, the Elastic Universe Thesis offers a testable alternative to the Lambda‑CDM model.