QVCSR Three-Regime Galaxy Observational Classification and Technical Guide (v2.0)

Summary This document provides a practical, observationally focused classification guide and technical reference for applying the Quantum Vacuum Composite Stiffness Response (QVCSR) to galaxy dynamics. It defines the baryonic acceleration (g_bar), the external-field acceleration (g_ext), and the total effective acceleration (g_tot), and describes how to compute each quantity from standard observational inputs such as rotation curves, stellar surface photometry, HI maps, and environmental information. Galaxies are then classified into one of three dynamical regimes, defined relative to the universal QVCSR vacuum-stiffness scale a_QV ~ 1.1e-10 m/s^2: a high-acceleration suppression regime, an intermediate shallow-activation regime, and a low-acceleration full-activation regime. Contents of Version 2.0 Version 2.0 of this guide expands the original placeholder release by providing: Step-by-step instructions for computing g_bar, g_ext, and g_tot A clear, reproducible decision-tree flowchart for regime assignment A conceptual figure showing the three regimes in acceleration space Worked examples spanning high-, intermediate-, and low-acceleration galaxies Quantitative thresholds and practical rules of thumb A set of falsification tests relevant to current and upcoming surveys Appendices collecting the key equations, recommended data sources, and example Python code suitable for research pipelines Purpose This guide serves as the official companion to the QVCSR Three-Regimes paper (Simpson 2025) and provides a transparent, falsifiable methodology for identifying the acceleration regime occupied by any galaxy using observational data alone. It is intended to support ongoing work on QVCSR, including analyses based on SPARC, LITTLE THINGS, SHIELD, THINGS, and forthcoming large samples such as Big SPARC. Recommended use Researchers may use this guide to: Classify galaxies into suppression, shallow-activation, or full-activation regimes Interpret rotation curves and baryonic mass models within the QVCSR framework Identify systems where vacuum-stiffness effects should be most pronounced Apply falsification tests to new datasets or survey releases Integrate the provided code snippets into computational workflows or QVCSR test beds This v2.0 release is intended as a complete and self-contained technical reference for QVCSR regime classification.