Features and nongaussianity in the inflationary power spectrum

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in analyzing features and non-Gaussianity in the inflationary power spectrum, including observational constraints, alternative cosmological models, and string theory-inspired nonlocal inflation models.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent research on constraining features in the CMB, explores nonstandard cosmological models, and discusses string theory motivated nonlocal inflation models.

Findings

Constraints on spike-like features in CMB and large scale structure

Nonstandard Friedmann equations in warped 6D brane cosmology

Large non-Gaussian fluctuations from nonlocal inflation models

Abstract

I summarize recent work on (1) constraining spike-like features in the cosmic microwave background and large scale structure; (2) nonstandard Friedmann equation in stabilized warped 6D brane cosmology, with applications to inflation; and (3) nonlocal inflation models, motivated by string theory, which can yield large nongaussian CMB fluctuations. Work in collaboration with N. Barnaby, T. Biswas, F. Chen, L. Hoi, G. Holder and S. Kanno.