Effiicient estimation of higher-order correlation functions from Inflation.

博士项目将通过精确计算暴胀模型的高阶相关函数，推进早期宇宙理论与观测宇宙学之间的对抗。使用可分离特征函数（“模态”）方法，率先研究宇宙微波天空中的三点相关器（或双谱），该项目将使用量子场理论“in-in”形式主义，将这种方法应用于暴胀期间扰动的动态演变。可分形式的精确双谱形状的高效计算，为非高斯统计量的数据分析搜索提供了方便。该方法将从单场膨胀的简单示例发展到多场和周期膨胀模型，其中预期不同的非高斯信号。与观测数据集的直接比较，如宇宙微波背景图和星系调查，将指导和限制对基础物理学中暴胀的理解。

The PhD project will advance the confrontation between early universe theory and observational cosmology by accurately calculating higher-order correlation functions from inflationary models. Using separable eigenfunction ("modal") methods pioneered for studying the three-point correlator (or bispectrum) in the cosmic microwave sky, this project will apply this methodology to the dynamical evolution of perturbations during inflation using the quantum field theory "in-in" formalism. The efficient calculation of precise bispectrum shapes in separable form is convenient for data analytic searches for non-Gaussian statistics. The methodology will be developed from simple examples with single-field inflation to multiple field and periodic inflation models where distinct non-Gaussian signals are anticipated. Direct comparison with observational data sets, such as cosmic microwave background maps and galaxy surveys, will guide and constrain the understanding of inflation in fundamental physics.