Non-gaussianity from the bispectrum in general multiple field inflation

We study the non-gaussianity from the bispectrum in multi-field inflation models with a general kinetic term. The models include the multi-field K-inflation and the multi-field Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) inflation as special cases. We find that, in general, the sound speeds for the adiabatic and entropy perturbations are different and they can be smaller than 1. Then the non-gaussianity can be enhanced. The multi-field DBI-inflation is shown to be a special case where both sound speeds are the same due to a special form of the kinetic term. We derive the exact second and third order actions including metric perturbations. In the small sound speed limit and at leading order in the slow-roll expansion, we derive the three point function for the curvature perturbation which depends on both adiabatic and entropy perturbations. The contribution from the entropy perturbations has a different momentum dependence if the sound speed for the entropy perturbations is different from the adiabatic one, which provides a possibility to distinguish the multi-field models from single field models. On the other hand, in the multi-field DBI case, the contribution from the entropy perturbations has the same momentum dependence as the pure adiabatic contributions and it only changes the amplitude of the three point function. This could help to ease the constraints on the DBI-inflation models.Comment: 16 pages, no figur

On the Issue of the \zeta Series Convergence and Loop Corrections in the Generation of Observable Primordial Non-Gaussianity in Slow-Roll Inflation. Part I: the Bispectrum

We show in this paper that it is possible to attain very high, {\it including observable}, values for the level of non-gaussianity f_{NL} associated with the bispectrum B_\zeta of the primordial curvature perturbation \zeta, in a subclass of small-field {\it slow-roll} models of inflation with canonical kinetic terms. Such a result is obtained by taking care of loop corrections both in the spectrum P_\zeta and the bispectrum B_\zeta. Sizeable values for f_{NL} arise even if \zeta is generated during inflation. Five issues are considered when constraining the available parameter space: 1. we must ensure that we are in a perturbative regime so that the \zeta series expansion, and its truncation, are valid. 2. we must apply the correct condition for the (possible) loop dominance in B_\zeta and/or P_\zeta. 3. we must satisfy the spectrum normalisation condition. 4. we must satisfy the spectral tilt constraint. 5. we must have enough inflation to solve the horizon problem.Comment: LaTeX file, 40 pages, 6 figures, Main body: 26 pages, Appendix: 8 pages, References: 6 pages. v2: minor grammatical changes, references added and updated, a few changes reflecting the fact that = 0, conclusions unchanged. Version accepted for publication in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physic