Scalar field theories and f(R) gravity offer a compelling framework for unifying dark matter with modifications to gravity, treating dark matter as a boundary condition rather than a particle.
Reimagining dark matter as a boundary condition or structural framework
Instead of viewing dark matter as discrete particles filling space, scalar field theories propose that dark matter effects emerge from modifications to gravity itself. This approach is analogous to how an artist first outlines figures in a painting to define objects before filling in with color.
In this paradigm, dark matter is not a "thing" but rather a boundary condition or structural framework that defines how visible matter behaves. The effects we attribute to dark matter could actually be the result of how gravity behaves differently at large scales or in regions of low density.
Scalar field theories introduce additional fields that modify Einstein's equations, creating effects that mimic dark matter halos without requiring new particles. These approaches naturally explain galaxy rotation curves, gravitational lensing, and cosmic structure formation while potentially resolving inconsistencies in the standard dark matter particle model.