Imprints of Massive Scalars on Primordial Non-Gaussianities

Citation

Ridgway, Alexander Karas (2019) Imprints of Massive Scalars on Primordial Non-Gaussianities. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/0FD0-GY68. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06112019-185424559

Abstract

In this thesis, we modify the standard single-field inflation scenario by adding additional massive scalars to the inflationary field content. Due to the breaking of time translational invariance by the inflaton background, the inflaton can interact with these extra scalars through a kinetic mixing term. If these scalars have self- interactions, then their kinetic mixings with the inflaton induce potentially large primordial non-gaussianities in the scalar curvature fluctuations, which could be observed in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and large-scale structure (LSS). We derive expressions for these non-Gaussianities in the limits the scalar masses are much larger than or much smaller than the Hubble constant during inflation and compute their contributions to dark matter halo correlation functions.

Item Type:

Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))

Subject Keywords:

Inflation

Degree Grantor:

California Institute of Technology

Division:

Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

Major Option:

Physics

Awards:

France A. Córdova Graduate Student Fund, 2018.

Thesis Availability:

Public (worldwide access)

Research Advisor(s):

Wise, Mark B.

Thesis Committee:

Cheung, Clifford W. (chair)
Doré, Olivier P.
Kapustin, Anton N.
Wise, Mark B.

Defense Date:

24 May 2019

Funders:

Funding Agency	Grant Number
Department of Energy (DOE)	DE-SC0011632

Record Number:

CaltechTHESIS:06112019-185424559

Persistent URL:

https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06112019-185424559

DOI:

10.7907/0FD0-GY68

Related URLs:

URL	URL Type	Description
https://arxiv.org/abs/1903.11607	arXiv	Article adapted for Chapter 5.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1712.07657	arXiv	Article adapted for Chapter 4.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1711.02667	arXiv	Article adapted for Chapter 3.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.09971	arXiv	Article adapted for Chapter 2.

ORCID:

Author	ORCID
Ridgway, Alexander Karas	0000-0002-2592-1848

Default Usage Policy:

No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.

ID Code:

11738

Collection:

CaltechTHESIS

Deposited By:

Alexander Ridgway

Deposited On:

14 Jun 2019 16:19

Last Modified:

26 Oct 2021 17:01

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