13 research outputs found
Large non-Gaussianities in the Effective Field Theory Approach to Single-Field Inflation: the Bispectrum
The methods of effective field theory are used to study generic theories of
inflation with a single inflaton field and to perform a general analysis of the
associated non-Gaussianities. We investigate the amplitudes and shapes of the
various generic three-point correlators, the bispectra, which may be generated
by different classes of single-field inflationary models. Besides the
well-known results for the DBI-like models and the ghost inflationary theories,
we point out that curvature-related interactions may give rise to large
non-Gaussianities in the form of bispectra characterized by a flat shape which,
quite interestingly, is independently produced by several interaction terms. In
a subsequent work, we will perform a similar general analysis for the
non-Gaussianities generated by the generic four-point correlator, the
trispectrum.Comment: Version matching the one published in JCAP, 2 typos fixed, references
added. 30 pages, 20 figure
Large non-Gaussianities in the Effective Field Theory Approach to Single-Field Inflation: the Trispectrum
We perform the analysis of the trispectrum of curvature perturbations
generated by the interactions characterizing a general theory of single-field
inflation obtained by effective field theory methods. We find that
curvature-generated interaction terms, which can in general give an important
contribution to the amplitude of the four-point function, show some new
distinctive features in the form of their trispectrum shape-function. These
interesting interactions are invariant under some recently proposed symmetries
of the general theory and, as shown explicitly, do allow for a large value of
the trispectrum.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figure
An Estimator for statistical anisotropy from the CMB bispectrum
Various data analyses of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) provide
observational hints of statistical isotropy breaking. Some of these features
can be studied within the framework of primordial vector fields in inflationary
theories which generally display some level of statistical anisotropy both in
the power spectrum and in higher-order correlation functions. Motivated by
these observations and the recent theoretical developments in the study of
primordial vector fields, we develop the formalism necessary to extract
statistical anisotropy information from the three-point function of the CMB
temperature anisotropy. We employ a simplified vector field model and
parametrize the bispectrum of curvature fluctuations in such a way that all the
information about statistical anisotropy is encoded in some parameters
lambda_{LM} (which measure the anisotropic to the isotropic bispectrum
amplitudes). For such a template bispectrum, we compute an optimal estimator
for lambda_{LM} and the expected signal-to-noise ratio. We estimate that, for
f_{NL} ~ 30, an experiment like Planck can be sensitive to a ratio of the
anisotropic to the isotropic amplitudes of the bispectrum as small as 10%. Our
results are complementary to the information coming from a power spectrum
analysis and particularly relevant for those models where statistical
anisotropy turns out to be suppressed in the power spectrum but not negligible
in the bispectrum.Comment: 25 pages, LaTeX file. Matches version accepted for publication in
JCAP; some references added; Appendix C added to explain the order of the
Edgeworth expansion employe
Statistical Anisotropy from Anisotropic Inflation
We review an inflationary scenario with the anisotropic expansion rate. An
anisotropic inflationary universe can be realized by a vector field coupled
with an inflaton, which can be regarded as a counter example to the cosmic
no-hair conjecture. We show generality of anisotropic inflation and derive a
universal property. We formulate cosmological perturbation theory in
anisotropic inflation. Using the formalism, we show anisotropic inflation gives
rise to the statistical anisotropy in primordial fluctuations. We also explain
a method to test anisotropic inflation using the cosmic microwave background
radiation (CMB).Comment: 32 pages, 5 figures, invited review for CQG, published versio
Cosmology with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has two scientific objectives of cosmological focus: to probe the expansion rate of the universe, and to understand stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds and their implications for early universe and particle physics, from the MeV to the Planck scale. However, the range of potential cosmological applications of gravitational wave observations extends well beyond these two objectives. This publication presents a summary of the state of the art in LISA cosmology, theory and methods, and identifies new opportunities to use gravitational wave observations by LISA to probe the universe
Cosmology with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has two scientific objectives of cosmological focus: to probe the expansion rate of the universe, and to understand stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds and their implications for early universe and particle physics, from the MeV to the Planck scale. However, the range of potential cosmological applications of gravitational wave observations extends well beyond these two objectives. This publication presents a summary of the state of the art in LISA cosmology, theory and methods, and identifies new opportunities to use gravitational wave observations by LISA to probe the universe
New horizons for fundamental physics with LISA
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has the potential to reveal wonders about the fundamental theory of nature at play in the extreme gravity regime, where the gravitational interaction is both strong and dynamical. In this white paper, the Fundamental Physics Working Group of the LISA Consortium summarizes the current topics in fundamental physics where LISA observations of GWs can be expected to provide key input. We provide the briefest of reviews to then delineate avenues for future research directions and to discuss connections between this working group, other working groups and the consortium work package teams. These connections must be developed for LISA to live up to its science potential in these areas
New horizons for fundamental physics with LISA
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has the potential to reveal wonders about the fundamental theory of nature at play in the extreme gravity regime, where the gravitational interaction is both strong and dynamical. In this white paper, the Fundamental Physics Working Group of the LISA Consortium summarizes the current topics in fundamental physics where LISA observations of gravitational waves can be expected to provide key input. We provide the briefest of reviews to then delineate avenues for future research directions and to discuss connections between this working group, other working groups and the consortium work package teams. These connections must be developed for LISA to live up to its science potential in these areas
Cosmology with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has two scientific objectives of cosmological focus: to probe the expansion rate of the universe, and to understand stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds and their implications for early universe and particle physics, from the MeV to the Planck scale. However, the range of potential cosmological applications of gravitational-wave observations extends well beyond these two objectives. This publication presents a summary of the state of the art in LISA cosmology, theory and methods, and identifies new opportunities to use gravitational-wave observations by LISA to probe the universe