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

Hunting for Isocurvature Modes in the CMB non-Gaussianities

We investigate new shapes of local primordial non-Gaussianities in the CMB. Allowing for a primordial isocurvature mode along with the main adiabatic one, the angular bispectrum is in general a superposition of six distinct shapes: the usual adiabatic term, a purely isocurvature component and four additional components that arise from correlations between the adiabatic and isocurvature modes. We present a class of early Universe models in which various hierarchies between these six components can be obtained, while satisfying the present upper bound on the isocurvature fraction in the power spectrum. Remarkably, even with this constraint, detectable non-Gaussianity could be produced by isocurvature modes. We finally discuss the prospects of detecting these new shapes with the Planck satellite.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Quantum inflaton, primordial metric perturbations and CMB fluctuations

We compute the primordial scalar, vector and tensor metric perturbations arising from quantum field inflation. Quantum field inflation takes into account the nonperturbative quantum dynamics of the inflaton consistently coupled to the dynamics of the (classical) cosmological metric. For chaotic inflation, the quantum treatment avoids the unnatural requirements of an initial state with all the energy in the zero mode. For new inflation it allows a consistent treatment of the explosive particle production due to spinodal instabilities. Quantum field inflation (under conditions that are the quantum analog of slow roll) leads, upon evolution, to the formation of a condensate starting a regime of effective classical inflation. We compute the primordial perturbations taking the dominant quantum effects into account. The results for the scalar, vector and tensor primordial perturbations are expressed in terms of the classical inflation results. For a N-component field in a O(N) symmetric model, adiabatic fluctuations dominate while isocurvature or entropy fluctuations are negligible. The results agree with the current WMAP observations and predict corrections to the power spectrum in classical inflation. Such corrections are estimated to be of the order of m^2/H^2 where m is the inflaton mass and H the Hubble constant at horizon crossing. This turns to be about 4% for the cosmologically relevant scales. This quantum field treatment of inflation provides the foundations to the classical inflation and permits to compute quantum corrections to it.Comment: LaTeX, 8 pages, no figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the ERE 2006 Meeting, Journal of Physics: Conference Serie

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