Field-Level Inference of Primordial Non-Gaussianity with the Quijote Simulation Suite

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel Bayesian field-level inference method for primordial non-Gaussianity using realistic halo simulations, outperforming traditional estimators and enhancing constraints on inflationary physics.

Contribution

It introduces a joint field-level inference approach for $f_{ m NL}^{ m local}$ that outperforms traditional methods and assesses its robustness with the Quijote simulation suite.

Findings

Achieves ~1.3 times better constraints on $f_{ m NL}^{ m local}$ than power spectrum and bispectrum estimators.

Demonstrates robustness of the method at scales down to $k_{max} \\approx 0.1 h \, \rm{Mpc}^{-1}$.

Shows increased resolution improves constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity.

Abstract

Local primordial non-Gaussianity, parameterised as $f_{\rm NL}^{\rm local}$, will be stringently constrained using state-of-the-art methods applied to next-generation galaxy redshift survey data. In this paper, in preparation for the upcoming data sets, we demonstrate for the first time the joint field-level inference of $f_{\rm NL}^{\rm local}$, nuisance parameters, and the initial conditions in realistic halo catalogues, ones which are generated through full dark-matter-only $N$-body simulations. The field-level inference algorithm optimally constrains $f_{\rm NL}^{\rm local}$ through a Bayesian forward-modelling approach at the field level, which outperforms traditional methods by leveraging the full statistical power of the data at the scales considered. In addition, we assess its performance under various design choices in the forward model, including tests of the structure formation model and resolution. We demonstrate the robustness of our approach by applying it to a subset of the \textit{Quijote} simulation suite, performing the inference at scales down to $k_{\rm max} \approx 0.1 h \rm{Mpc}^{-1}$. Compared with a power spectrum and bispectrum estimator, we find a $\sim1.3$ improvement in $\sigma(f_{\rm NL}^{\rm local})$ when applying \borg{}, while marginalising over the initial conditions and bias parameters. From the small-scale information sensitivity tests, we show that the constraints on $f_{\rm NL}^{\rm local}$ improve as we increase the resolution of the inference. These findings underscore the transformative potential of field-level inference to leverage the information available in ongoing surveys such as \textit{Euclid}, providing accurate insights into the physics of cosmic inflation and the number of fields driving it.