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Optimal bispectrum constraints on single-field models of inflation

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 18:13 authored by Gemma J Anderson, Donough Regan, David SeeryDavid Seery
We use WMAP 9-year bispectrum data to constrain the free parameters of an 'effective field theory' describing fluctuations in single-field inflation. The Lagrangian of the theory contains a finite number of operators associated with unknown mass scales. Each operator produces a fixed bispectrum shape, which we decompose into partial waves in order to construct a likelihood function. Based on this likelihood we are able to constrain four linearly independent combinations of the mass scales. As an example of our framework we specialize our results to the case of 'Dirac-Born-Infeld' and 'ghost' inflation and obtain the posterior probability for each model, which in Bayesian schemes is a useful tool for model comparison. Our results suggest that DBI-like models with two or more free parameters are disfavoured by the data by comparison with single parameter models in the same class.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Submitted version

Journal

Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics

ISSN

1475-7516

Publisher

Institute of Physics

Issue

7

Volume

2014

Page range

017

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-09-08

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2014-09-08

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-09-07

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