Multi-disformal invariance of nonlinear primordial perturbations

We study disformal transformations of the metric in the cosmological context. We first consider the disformal transformation generated by a scalar field $\phi$ and show that the curvature and tensor perturbations on the uniform $\phi$ slicing, on which the scalar field is homogeneous, are non-linearly invariant under the disformal transformation. Then we discuss the transformation properties of the evolution equations for the curvature and tensor perturbations at full non-linear order in the context of spatial gradient expansion as well as at linear order. In particular, we show that the transformation can be described in two typically different ways: one that clearly shows the physical invariance and the other that shows an apparent change of the causal structure. Finally we consider a new type of disformal transformation in which a multi-component scalar field comes into play, which we call a "multi-disformal transformation". We show that the curvature and tensor perturbations are invariant at linear order, and also at non-linear order provided that the system has reached the adiabatic limit.Comment: 8 page

Self-unitarization of New Higgs Inflation and compatibility with Planck and BICEP2 data

In this paper we show that the Germani-Kehagias model of Higgs inflation (or New Higgs Inflation), where the Higgs boson is kinetically non-minimally coupled to the Einstein tensor is in perfect compatibility with the latest Planck and BICEP2 data. Moreover, we show that the tension between the Planck and BICEP2 data can be relieved within the New Higgs inflation scenario by a negative running of the spectral index. Regarding the unitarity of the model, we argue that it is unitary throughout the evolution of the Universe. Weak couplings in the Higgs-Higgs and Higgs-graviton sectors are provided by a large background dependent cut-off scale during inflation. In the same regime, the W and Z gauge bosons acquire a very large mass, thus decouple. On the other hand, if they are also non-minimally coupled to the Higgs boson, their effective masses can be enormously reduced. In this case, the W and Z bosons are no longer decoupled. After inflation, the New Higgs model is well approximated by a quartic Galileon with a renormalizable potential. We argue that this can unitarily create the right conditions for inflation to eventually start.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure. [v2]: Explanations added, minor changes, results unchanged. Version published in JCA

\delta N versus covariant perturbative approach to non-Gaussianity outside the horizon in multifield inflation

We compute the super-Hubble evolution of non-Gaussianity of primordial curvature perturbations in two-field inflation models by employing two formalisms: delta N and covariant formalisms. Although two formalisms treat the evolution of fluctuations radically different, we show that the formulas of f_{NL} parameter agree quantitatively with each other within 1 % accuracy. We analytically find that the amplitude of f_{NL} decays no faster than a^{-3} as the inflationary trajectory reaches to the adiabatic limit for generic potentials.Comment: v4: minor changes, version accepted for PRD; v3: 10 pages, 14 figures, added two examples that produce relatively large non-Gaussianity in Appendix to support the results; v2: 8 pages, 10 figures, added reference