TY - JOUR

T1 - Statistical Anisotropy and the Vector Curvaton Paradigm

AU - Dimopoulos, Konstantinos

PY - 2012/3/5

Y1 - 2012/3/5

N2 - The vector curvaton paradigm is reviewed. The mechanism allows a massive vector boson field to contribute to or even generate the curvature perturbation in the Universe. Contribution of vector bosons is likely to generate statistical anisotropy in the spectrum and bispectrum of the curvature perturbation, which will soon be probed observationally. Two specific models for the generation of superhorizon spectra for the components of an Abelian vector field are analyzed. Emphasis is put on the observational signatures of the models when the vector fields play the role of vector curvatons. If future observations support the vector curvaton mechanism this will open a window into the gauge field content of theories beyond the standard model.

AB - The vector curvaton paradigm is reviewed. The mechanism allows a massive vector boson field to contribute to or even generate the curvature perturbation in the Universe. Contribution of vector bosons is likely to generate statistical anisotropy in the spectrum and bispectrum of the curvature perturbation, which will soon be probed observationally. Two specific models for the generation of superhorizon spectra for the components of an Abelian vector field are analyzed. Emphasis is put on the observational signatures of the models when the vector fields play the role of vector curvatons. If future observations support the vector curvaton mechanism this will open a window into the gauge field content of theories beyond the standard model.

U2 - 10.1142/S021827181250023X

DO - 10.1142/S021827181250023X

M3 - Journal article

VL - 21

SP - 1

EP - 26

JO - International Journal of Modern Physics D

JF - International Journal of Modern Physics D

SN - 0218-2718

IS - 3

M1 - 1250023

ER -