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OATS-UNI/TS SEMINAR
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Speaker: Emiliano Sefusatti (ICTP - Trieste)

Title: Testing the initial conditions with the large-scale structure of the Universe
Date: Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Time: 11:30
Venue: Villa Bazzoni
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Abstract: The possible detection of a non-Gaussian component in the initial condition of the Universe could provide crucial information on the physics of inflation. While current constraints on non-Gaussian parameters are still consistent with the Gaussian hypothesis, the Planck satellite will soon significantly improve these limits. In case of detection, a confirmation from different observables, as the for instance the galaxy distribution, will be required. I will review the basic effects of non-Gaussian initial conditions on the evolution of the large-scale structure of the Universe, paying specific attention to how they affect the nonlinear growth, both of the matter power spectrum and higher-order correlation functions as well as the corrections induced to linear and nonlinear galaxy bias. In addition, I will present in details the case of the Quasi-Single Field model of inflation, characterized by a quite rich phenomenology in terms of its observational consequences.
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Contact: Stefano Borgani (DAUTS)