PhD Defenses

PHYSICS PHD DISSERTATION DEFENSE: George Panagopoulos

Date
Tue May 25th 2021, 1:00pm

Ph.D. Candidate:  George Panagopoulos

Research Advisor:  Eva Silverstein

Date: Tuesday, May , 25, 2021
Time: 1 pm
Zoom Link: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/98751766602

Zoom Password: email mariaf67 [at] stanford.edu (mariaf67[at]stanford[dot]edu) for password

Title: Strong Tails in Multifield Inflation

Abstract:

In this talk, we investigate the tail of the distribution of cosmological perturbations in multifield inflation. We show that it can be quite generally paramatrically non-Gaussian by considering relative flat directions in the mulifield potential landscape. These fields can develop very non-Gaussian profiles, that then mix with the inflaton, producing a heavy tail. This leads us to a new primordial black hole production mechanism. We also study the connected N-point correlation functions of these theories and find that they have a general N!-enhancement. Finally, we present a new mechanism for inflation which exhibits a speed limit on scalar motion, generating accelerated expansion even on a steep potential.