31 research outputs found
Quantitative bispectra from multifield inflation
After simplifying and improving the non-Gaussian formalism we developed in
previous work, we derive a quantitative expression for the three-point
correlator (bispectrum) of the curvature perturbation in general multiple-field
inflation models. Our result describes the evolution of non-Gaussianity on
superhorizon scales caused by the nonlinear influence of isocurvature
perturbations on the adiabatic perturbation during inflation. We then study a
simple quadratic two-field potential and find that when slow roll breaks down
and the field trajectory changes direction in field space, the non-Gaussianity
can become large. However, for the simple models studied to date, the magnitude
of this non-Gaussianity decays away after the isocurvature mode is converted
into the adiabatic mode.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure. v4: Added remarks on momentum dependence, minor
textual changes, matches published versio
Simple route to non-Gaussianity in inflation
We present a simple way to calculate non-Gaussianity in inflation using fully
non-linear equations on long wavelengths with stochastic sources to take into
account the short-wavelength quantum fluctuations. Our formalism includes both
scalar metric and matter perturbations, combining them into variables which are
invariant under changes of time slicing in the long-wavelength limit. We
illustrate this method with a perturbative calculation in the single-field
slow-roll case. We also introduce a convenient choice of variables to
graphically present the full momentum dependence of the three-point correlator.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures. v2: Updated formalism to version described in
astro-ph/0504508, leading to dropping of one unnecessary approximation. Final
results not significantly changed. Extended discussion of calculation and
added graphical presentation of full momentum dependence. References
corrected and added. v3: Final version, only small textual change
Non-linear inflationary perturbations
We present a method by which cosmological perturbations can be quantitatively
studied in single and multi-field inflationary models beyond linear
perturbation theory. A non-linear generalization of the gauge-invariant
Sasaki-Mukhanov variables is used in a long-wavelength approximation. These
generalized variables remain invariant under time slicing changes on long
wavelengths. The equations they obey are relatively simple and can be
formulated for a number of time slicing choices. Initial conditions are set
after horizon crossing and the subsequent evolution is fully non-linear. We
briefly discuss how these methods can be implemented numerically in the study
of non-Gaussian signatures from specific inflationary models.Comment: 10 pages, replaced to match JCAP versio
Large non-Gaussianity in multiple-field inflation
We investigate non-Gaussianity in general multiple-field inflation using the
formalism we developed in earlier papers. We use a perturbative expansion of
the non-linear equations to calculate the three-point correlator of the
curvature perturbation analytically. We derive a general expression that
involves only a time integral over background and linear perturbation
quantities. We work out this expression explicitly for the two-field slow-roll
case, and find that non-Gaussianity can be orders of magnitude larger than in
the single-field case. In particular, the bispectrum divided by the square of
the power spectrum can easily be of O(1-10), depending on the model. Our result
also shows the explicit momentum dependence of the bispectrum. This conclusion
of large non-Gaussianity is confirmed in a semi-analytic slow-roll
investigation of a simple quadratic two-field model.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures. v4: Minor textual changes to match published
version. In addition, and superseding the published version, a small error in
X and X-bar has been corrected; no significant changes to the final results.
Note that an extended (no slow roll) numerical treatment superseding section
V.D is available in astro-ph/051104
Non-Gaussian perturbations from multi-field inflation
We show how the primordial bispectrum of density perturbations from inflation
may be characterised in terms of manifestly gauge-invariant cosmological
perturbations at second order. The primordial metric perturbation, zeta,
describing the perturbed expansion of uniform-density hypersurfaces on large
scales is related to scalar field perturbations on unperturbed (spatially-flat)
hypersurfaces at first- and second-order. The bispectrum of the metric
perturbation is thus composed of (i) a local contribution due to the
second-order gauge-transformation, and (ii) the instrinsic bispectrum of the
field perturbations on spatially flat hypersurfaces. We generalise previous
results to allow for scale-dependence of the scalar field power spectra and
correlations that can develop between fields on super-Hubble scales.Comment: 11 pages, RevTex; minor changes to text; conclusions unchanged;
version to appear in JCA
Cosmic Acceleration Driven by Mirage Inhomogeneities
A cosmological model based on an inhomogeneous D3-brane moving in an AdS_5 X
S_5 bulk is introduced. Although there is no special points in the bulk, the
brane Universe has a center and is isotropic around it. The model has an
accelerating expansion and its effective cosmological constant is inversely
proportional to the distance from the center, giving a possible geometrical
origin for the smallness of a present-day cosmological constant. Besides, if
our model is considered as an alternative of early time acceleration, it is
shown that the early stage accelerating phase ends in a dust dominated FRW
homogeneous Universe. Mirage-driven acceleration thus provides a dark matter
component for the brane Universe final state. We finally show that the model
fulfills the current constraints on inhomogeneities.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure, IOP style. v2, changed style, minor corrections,
references added, version accepted in Class. Quant. Gra
Non-Gaussianity in braneworld and tachyon inflation
We calculate the bispectrum of single-field braneworld inflation, triggered
by either an ordinary scalar field or a cosmological tachyon, by means of a
gradient expansion of large-scale non-linear perturbations coupled to
stochastic dynamics. The resulting effect is identical to that for single-field
4D standard inflation, the non-linearity parameter being proportional to the
scalar spectral index in the limit of collapsing momentum. If the slow-roll
approximation is assumed, braneworld and tachyon non-Gaussianities are
subdominant with respect to the post-inflationary contribution. However, bulk
physics may considerably strengthen the non-linear signatures. These features
do not change significantly when considered in a non-commutative framework.Comment: 17 pages; v2: added references and previously skipped details in the
derivation of the result; v3: improved discussio
Non-Gaussianity in Multi-field Stochastic Inflation with the Scaling Approximation
The statistics of multi-field inflation are investigated using the stochastic
approach. We analytically obtain the probability distribution function of
fields with the scaling approximation by extending the previous work by
Amendola. The non-Gaussian nature of the probability distribution function is
investigated decomposing the fields into the adiabatic and isocurvature
components. We find that the non-Gaussianity of the isocurvature component can
be large compared with that of the adiabatic component. The adiabatic and
isocurvature components may be correlated at nonlinear order in the skewness
and kurtosis even if uncorrelated at linear level.Comment: To appear in JCAP, references adde
Non-Gaussianities in two-field inflation
We study the bispectrum of the curvature perturbation on uniform energy
density hypersurfaces in models of inflation with two scalar fields evolving
simultaneously. In the case of a separable potential, it is possible to compute
the curvature perturbation up to second order in the perturbations, generated
on large scales due to the presence of non-adiabatic perturbations, by
employing the -formalism, in the slow-roll approximation. In this
case, we provide an analytic formula for the nonlinear parameter . We
apply this formula to double inflation with two massive fields, showing that it
does not generate significant non-Gaussianity; the nonlinear parameter at the
end of inflation is slow-roll suppressed. Finally, we develop a numerical
method for generic two-field models of inflation, which allows us to go beyond
the slow-roll approximation and confirms our analytic results for double
inflation.Comment: 29 pages, 6 figures. v2, comparison with previous estimates. v3, JCAP
version; Revisions based on Referee's comment, corrected typos, added few eqs
and refs, conclusions unchange