English

Quantitative bispectra from multifield inflation

Astrophysics 2008-11-26 v4

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0511041,
  title  = {Quantitative bispectra from multifield inflation},
  author = {G. I. Rigopoulos and E. P. S. Shellard and B. J. W. van Tent},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0511041},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

7 pages, 1 figure. v4: Added remarks on momentum dependence, minor textual changes, matches published version