English

Multi-variate joint PDF for non-Gaussianities: exact formulation and generic approximations

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics 2015-06-12 v2 High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

We provide an exact expression for the multi-variate joint probability distribution function of non-Gaussian fields primordially arising from local transformations of a Gaussian field. This kind of non-Gaussianity is generated in many models of inflation. We apply our expression to the non- Gaussianity estimation from Cosmic Microwave Background maps and the halo mass function where we obtain analytical expressions. We also provide analytic approximations and their range of validity. For the Cosmic Microwave Background we give a fast way to compute the PDF which is valid up to 7{\sigma} for fNL values (both true and sampled) not ruled out by current observations, which consists of expressing the PDF as a combination of bispectrum and trispectrum of the temperature maps. The resulting expression is valid for any kind of non-Gaussianity and is not limited to the local type. The above results may serve as the basis for a fully Bayesian analysis of the non-Gaussianity parameter.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1301.6017,
  title  = {Multi-variate joint PDF for non-Gaussianities: exact formulation and generic approximations},
  author = {Licia Verde and Raul Jimenez and Luis Alvarez-Gaume and Alan F. Heavens and Sabino Matarrese},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1301.6017},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

Matches accepted verion to JCAP; conclusions unchaged, extra references added

R2 v1 2026-06-21T23:15:14.188Z