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arXiv · 1506.06750

Large Non-Gaussianity in Slow-Roll Inflation

David Pirtskhalava·Luca Santoni·Enrico Trincherini·Filippo Vernizzi
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Abstract

Canonical models of single-field, slow-roll inflation do not lead to appreciable non-Gaussianity, unless derivative interactions of the inflaton become uncontrollably large. We propose a novel slow-roll scenario where scalar perturbations propagate at a subluminal speed, leading to sizeable equilateral non-Gaussianity, $f^{\rm equil}_{\rm NL}\propto 1/c_s^4$, largely insensitive to the ultraviolet physics. The model is based on a low-energy effective theory characterized by weakly broken invariance under internal galileon transformations, $ϕ\toϕ+b_μx^μ$, which protects the properties of perturbations from large quantum corrections. This provides the unique alternative to models such as DBI inflation in generating strongly subluminal/non-Gaussian scalar perturbations.

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David Pirtskhalava, Luca Santoni, Enrico Trincherini, Filippo Vernizzi. 2015-06-22. Large Non-Gaussianity in Slow-Roll Inflation. https://doi.org/10.1007/jhep04(2016)117

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