Non-Gaussianity constraints using future radio continuum surveys and the multitracer technique

Journal article

Tighter constraints on measurements of primordial non-Gaussianity (PNG) will allow the differentiation of inflationary scenarios. The cosmic microwave background bispectrum – the standard method of measuring the local non-Gaussianity – is limited by cosmic variance. Therefore, it is sensible to investigate measurements of non-Gaussianity using the large-scale structure. This can be done by investigating the effects of non-Gaussianity on the power spectrum on large scales. In this study, we forecast the constraints on the local PNG parameter fNL that can be obtained with future radio surveys. We utilize the multitracer method that reduces the effect of cosmic variance and takes advantage of the multiple radio galaxy populations that are differently biased tracers of the same underlying dark matter distribution. Improvements on previous work include the use of observational bias and halo mass estimates, updated simulations, and realistic photometric redshift expectations, thus producing more realistic forecasts. Combinations of Square Kilometre Array simulations and radio observations were used as well as different redshift ranges and redshift bin sizes. It was found that in the most realistic case the 1σ error on fNL falls within the range 4.07–6.58, rivalling the tightest constraints currently available.

Authors: Gomes, Z; Camera, S; Jarvis, MJ; Hale, C; Fonseca, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
• Volume: 492
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1513-1522
• Publication date: 2019-12-20
• Acceptance date: 2019-12-18
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stz3581
• EISSN: 1365-2966
• ISSN: 0035-8711
• Language: English
• Keywords: inflation; FFR; cosmological parameters; large-scale structure of Universe; radio continuum: galaxies; galaxies: active