Primordial Non-Gaussianity and Large-Scale Structure

          @misc{ scivideos_PIRSA:10040042,
            doi = {10.48660/10040042},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/10040042},
            author = {Dalal, Neal},
            keywords = {Cosmology},
            language = {en},
            title = {Primordial Non-Gaussianity and Large-Scale Structure},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics},
            year = {2010},
            month = {apr},
            note = {PIRSA:10040042 see, \url{https://scivideos.org/index.php/pirsa/10040042}}
          }
          

Abstract

The primordial density fluctuations that seeded large-scale structure are known to be nearly Gaussian, as predicted by most early universe models like slow-roll inflation. Many of these models predict a small (but nonzero!) amount of primordial non-gaussianity, which can subtly affect the statistics of CMB anisotropies. Surprisingly, even a small primordial non-gaussianity can produce enormous changes in the large-scale clustering of galaxies and quasars at late times. I will describe the origin of this effect, and review recent constraints on non-gaussianity using measurements of the clustering of galaxies and quasars in SDSS.