3,836 research outputs found
High-Resolution Simulations of Cosmic Microwave Background non-Gaussian Maps in Spherical Coordinates
We describe a new numerical algorithm to obtain high-resolution simulated
maps of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), for a broad class of
non-Gaussian models. The kind of non-Gaussianity we account for is based on the
simple idea that the primordial gravitational potential is obtained by a
non-linear but local mapping from an underlying Gaussian random field, as
resulting from a variety of inflationary models. Our technique, which is based
on a direct realization of the potential in spherical coordinates and fully
accounts for the radiation transfer function, allows to simulate non-Gaussian
CMB maps down to the Planck resolution (), with
reasonable memory storage and computational time.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to ApJ. A version with higher quality
figures is available at http://www.pd.infn.it/~liguori/content.htm
Primordial non-Gaussianity and Bispectrum Measurements in the Cosmic Microwave Background and Large-Scale Structure
The most direct probe of non-Gaussian initial conditions has come from
bispectrum measurements of temperature fluctuations in the Cosmic Microwave
Background and of the matter and galaxy distribution at large scales. Such
bispectrum estimators are expected to continue to provide the best constraints
on the non-Gaussian parameters in future observations. We review and compare
the theoretical and observational problems, current results and future
prospects for the detection of a non-vanishing primordial component in the
bispectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background and large-scale structure, and
the relation to specific predictions from different inflationary models.Comment: 82 pages, 23 figures; Invited Review for the special issue "Testing
the Gaussianity and Statistical Isotropy of the Universe" for Advances in
Astronom
General CMB and Primordial Bispectrum Estimation I: Mode Expansion, Map-Making and Measures of f_NL
We present a detailed implementation of two bispectrum estimation methods
which can be applied to general non-separable primordial and CMB bispectra. The
method exploits bispectrum mode decompositions on the domain of allowed
wavenumber or multipole values. Concrete mode examples constructed from
symmetrised tetrahedral polynomials are given, demonstrating rapid convergence
for known bispectra. We use these modes to generate simulated CMB maps of high
resolution (l > 2000) given an arbitrary primordial power spectrum and
bispectrum or an arbitrary late-time CMB angular power spectrum and bispectrum.
By extracting coefficients for the same separable basis functions from an
observational map, we are able to present an efficient and general f_NL
estimator for a given theoretical model. The estimator has two versions
comparing theoretical and observed coefficients at either primordial or late
times, thus encompassing a wider range of models, including secondary
anisotropies, lensing and cosmic strings. We provide examples and validation of
both f_NL estimation methods by direct comparison with simulations in a
WMAP-realistic context. In addition, we show how the full bispectrum can be
extracted from observational maps using these mode expansions, irrespective of
the theoretical model under study. We also propose a universal definition of
the bispectrum parameter F_NL for more consistent comparison between
theoretical models. We obtain WMAP5 estimates of f_NL for the equilateral model
from both our primordial and late-time estimators which are consistent with
each other, as well as with results already published in the literature. These
general bispectrum estimation methods should prove useful for the analysis of
nonGaussianity in the Planck satellite data, as well as in other contexts.Comment: 41 pages, 17 figure
Calculating the local-type fNL for slow-roll inflation with a non-vacuum initial state
Single-field slow-roll inflation with a non-vacuum initial state has an
enhanced bispectrum in the local limit. We numerically calculate the local-type
fNL signal in the CMB that would be measured for such models (including the
full transfer function and 2D projection). The nature of the result depends on
several parameters, including the occupation number N_k, the phase angle
\theta_k between the Bogoliubov parameters, and the slow-roll parameter
\epsilon. In the most conservative case, where one takes \theta_k \approx
\eta_0 k (justified by physical reasons discussed within) and \epsilon\lesssim
0.01, we find that 0 < fNL < 1.52 (\epsilon/0.01), which is likely too small to
be detected in the CMB. However, if one is willing to allow a constant value
for the phase angle \theta_k and N_k=O(1), fNL can be much larger and/or
negative (depending on the choice of \theta_k), e.g. fNL \approx 28
(\epsilon/0.01) or -6.4 (\epsilon/0.01); depending on \epsilon, these scenarios
could be detected by Planck or a future satellite. While we show that these
results are not actually a violation of the single-field consistency relation,
they do produce a value for fNL that is considerably larger than that usually
predicted from single-field inflation.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure. v2: Version accepted for publication in PRD. Added
greatly expanded discussion of the phase angle \theta_k; this allows the
possibility of enhanced fNL, as mentioned in abstract. More explicit
comparisons with earlier wor
Factorization in integrable systems with impurity
This article is based on recent works done in collaboration with M. Mintchev,
E. Ragoucy and P. Sorba. It aims at presenting the latest developments in the
subject of factorization for integrable field theories with a reflecting and
transmitting impurity.Comment: 7 pages; contribution to the XIVth International Colloquium on
Integrable systems, Prague, June 200
Non Gaussian extrema counts for CMB maps
In the context of the geometrical analysis of weakly non Gaussian CMB maps,
the 2D differential extrema counts as functions of the excursion set threshold
is derived from the full moments expansion of the joint probability
distribution of an isotropic random field, its gradient and invariants of the
Hessian. Analytic expressions for these counts are given to second order in the
non Gaussian correction, while a Monte Carlo method to compute them to
arbitrary order is presented. Matching count statistics to these estimators is
illustrated on fiducial non-Gaussian "Planck" data.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
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