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arXiv · hep-ph/0207295

Non-Gaussianity in multi-field inflation

Abstract

This article investigates the generation of non-Gaussianity during inflation. In the context of multi-field inflation, we detail a mechanism that can create significant primordial non-Gaussianities in the adiabatic mode while preserving the scale invariance of the power spectrum. This mechanism is based on the generation of non-Gaussian isocurvature fluctuations which are then transfered to the adiabatic modes through a bend in the classical inflaton trajectory. Natural realizations involve quartic self-interaction terms for which a full computation can be performed. The expected statistical properties of the resulting metric fluctuations are shown to be the superposition of a Gaussian and a non-Gaussian contribution of the same variance. The relative weight of these two contributions is related to the total bending in field space. We explicit the non-Gaussian probability distribution function which appears to be described by a single new parameter. Only two new parameters therefore suffice in describing the non-Gaussianity.

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BibTeXRIS

Francis Bernardeau, Jean-Philippe Uzan. 2002-07-24. Non-Gaussianity in multi-field inflation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.66.103506

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