Gradient expansion formalism for nonlinear superhorizon perturbations

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive formalism for analyzing nonlinear superhorizon cosmological perturbations, including scalar and tensor modes, applicable to various gravity theories and inflation models, extending beyond traditional approaches.

Contribution

It introduces a gradient expansion formalism that handles nonlinear superhorizon perturbations in general scalar-tensor theories, including models beyond standard inflation.

Findings

Formalism valid up to second order in gradient expansion.

Applicable to multiple gravity and inflation models, including modified gravity.

Enables calculation of nonlinear evolution of primordial non-Gaussianity.

Abstract

We develop a theory of nonlinear cosmological perturbations on superhorizon scales where a characteristic length scale of perturbations is longer than the Hubble radius, in general theoretical frameworks. Our formalism is based on the spatial gradient expansion approach by adopting the ADM decomposition. Nonlinear superhorizon perturbation including both scalar (curvature perturbation) and tensor (gravitational waves) modes can be dealt with valid up to a second-order in the expansion. First we will review the formalism for a standard general relativity (GR) gravity plus a general kinetic single scalar (k-inflation) with a general form of the potential in the context of inflationary cosmology. That is the basic overview of our procedure. Then it can be extended to more general framework, that is (1) beyond k-inflation (Galileon inflation), (2) a multi-component scalar field with a general kinetic term and a general form of the potential and also (3) beyond Einstein gravity (general scalar-tensor theory), which can lead to several kinds of modified gravity. These theories are motivated not only inflation, but also the topic of dark energy. We provide a formalism to obtain the solution and construct nonlinear curvature perturbation in such general theoretical situation and it can be applied to the calculation of the superhorizon evolution of a primordial non-Gaussianity beyond the so-called $\delta N$ formalism, showing fully nonlinear interaction of both scalar and tensor modes.