Effiicient estimation of higher-order correlation functions from Inflation.

The PhD project will advance the confrontation between early universe theory and observational cosmology by accurately calculating higher-order correlation functions from inflationary models. Using separable eigenfunction ("modal") methods pioneered for studying the three-point correlator (or bispectrum) in the cosmic microwave sky, this project will apply this methodology to the dynamical evolution of perturbations during inflation using the quantum field theory "in-in" formalism. The efficient calculation of precise bispectrum shapes in separable form is convenient for data analytic searches for non-Gaussian statistics. The methodology will be developed from simple examples with single-field inflation to multiple field and periodic inflation models where distinct non-Gaussian signals are anticipated. Direct comparison with observational data sets, such as cosmic microwave background maps and galaxy surveys, will guide and constrain the understanding of inflation in fundamental physics.