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, fNLequil ∝ 1/cs4, 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 → ϕ + bμxμ, 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.

Large Non-Gaussianity in Slow-Roll Inflation

PIRTSKHALAVA, DAVID;SANTONI, LUCA;TRINCHERINI, ENRICO;VERNIZZI, Filippo
2016

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, fNLequil ∝ 1/cs4, 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 → ϕ + bμxμ, 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.
2016
Settore FIS/02 - Fisica Teorica, Modelli e Metodi Matematici
Cosmology of Theories beyond the SM; Effective field theories;
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11384/62940
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