The measure for the multiverse and the probability for inflation
We investigate the measure problem in the framework of inflationary cosmology. The measure of the history space is constructed and applied to inflation models. Using this measure, it is shown that the probability for the generalized single-field slow roll inflation to last for N e-folds is suppressed by a factor exp(−3N), and the probability for the generalized n-field slow roll inflation is suppressed by a much larger factor, exp(−3nN). Some non-inflationary models such as the cyclic model do not suffer from this difficulty.

title: Non-Gaussianity, isocurvature perturbation, gravitational waves, and a no-go theorem for the isocurvaton
abstract: We investigate the isocurvaton model, in which the isocurvature perturbation plays a role in suppressing the curvature perturbation, and large non-Gaussianity and gravitational waves can be produced with no isocurvature perturbation for dark matter. We show that in the slow-roll noninteracting multifield theory, the isocurvaton mechanism cannot be realized. This result can also be generalized to most of the studied models with generalized kinetic terms. We also study the implications for the curvaton model. We show that there is a combined constraint for curvaton on non-Gaussianity, gravitational waves, and isocurvature perturbation. The technique used in this paper can also help to simplify some calculations in the mixed inflaton and curvaton models. We also investigate the possibility of producing large negative non-Gaussianity and nonlocal non-Gaussianity in the curvaton model.

title: Curvaton dynamics and the non-linearity parameters in the curvaton model
abstract: We investigate the curvaton dynamics and the non-linearity parameters in the curvaton model with a potential slightly deviating from the quadratic form in detail. The non-linearity parameter gNL will show up due to the curvaton self-interaction. We also point out that the leading order of the non-quadratic term in the curvaton potential can be negative, for example in the axion-type curvaton model. If a large positive gNL is detected, the axion-type curvaton model will be preferred.

title: Quasi-Single Field Inflation and Non-Gaussianities
abstract: In quasi-single field inflation models, massive isocurvature modes, that are coupled to the inflaton and have mass of order the Hubble parameter, can have nontrivial impacts on density perturbations, especially non-Gaussianities. We study a simple example of quasi-single field inflation in terms of turning inflaton trajectory. Large bispectra with a one-parameter family of novel shapes arise, lying between the well-known local and equilateral shape. The trispectra can also be very large and its magnitude tNL can be much larger than fNL2.

title: Quadra-Spectrum and Quint-Spectrum from Inflation and Curvaton Models
abstract: We calculate the quadra-spectrum and quint-spectrum, corresponding to five and six point correlation functions of the curvature perturbation. For single field inflation with standard kinetic term, the quadra-spectrum and quint-spectrum are small, which are suppressed by slow roll parameters. The calculation can be generalized to multiple fields. When there is no entropy perturbation, the quadra-spectrum and quint-spectrum are suppressed as well. With the presence of entropy perturbation, the quadra-spectrum and quint-spectrum can get boosted. We illustrate this boost in the multi-brid inflation model. For the curvaton scenario, the quadra-spectrum and quint-spectrum are also large in the small r limit. We also calculate representative terms of quadra-spectrum and quint-spectrum for inflation with generalized kinetic terms, and estimate their order of magnitude for quasi-single field inflation.

title: CMB statistical anisotropies of classical and quantum origins
abstract: We examine the impact of different anisotropic relics on inflation, in particular the predictions on the density perturbations. These relics can be the source of the large scale anomalies in the cosmic microwave background. There are two different types of background relics, one from the matter sector and the other purely from the metric. Although the angular-dependence of the statistical anisotropy in both cases are degenerate, the scale-dependence are observationally distinctive. In addition, we demonstrate that non-Bunch-Davies vacuum states can extend the statistical anisotropy to much shorter scales, and leave a scale-dependence that is insensitive to the different backgrounds but sensitive to the initial quantum state.

title: Holographic p-wave Josephson junction
abstract: In this work we generalized holographic model for s-wave DC Josephson junction constructed in arXiv:1101.3326[hep-th] to a holographic description for p-wave Josephson junction. By solving numerically the coupled equations of motion of Yang-Mills theory for a non-Abelian SU(2) gauge fields in (3+1)-dimensional AdS spacetimes, we shown that DC current of the p-wave Josephson junction is proportional to the sine of the phase difference across the junction like the s-wave case.

title: Threshold resummation for $W^{\pm}Z$ and $ZZ$ pair production at the LHC
abstract: We perform the threshold resummation for WZ and ZZ pair production at the next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy in Soft-Collinear Effective Theory at the LHC. Our results show that the resummation effects increase the total cross sections by about 7% for ZZ production and 12% for WZ production with$\sqrt{S}= 7,~8,~13 and 14 TeV, respectively, and the scale uncertainties are significantly reduced. Besides, our numerical results are well consistent with experimental data reported by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations.

title: False vacuum decay in generalized extended inflation
abstract: We study false-vacuum decay in context of generalized extended inflationary theories, and compute the bubble nucleation rates for these theories in the limit of G N → 0. We find that the time dependence of the nucleation rate can be exponentially strong through the time dependence of the Jordan—Brans—Dicke field. This can have a pronounced effect on whether extended inflation can be successfully implemented.

title: Cosmology in the Next Millennium: Combining MAP and SDSS Data to Constrain Inflationary Models
abstract: The basic cosmological parameters and the primordial power spectrum together completely specify predictions for the cosmic microwave background radiation anisotropy and large scale structure. Here we show how we can strongly constrain both $A_S^2(k)$ and the cosmological parameters by combining the data from the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) and the galaxy redshift survey from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We allow $A_S^2(k)$ to be a free function, and thus probe features in the primordial power spectrum on all scales. The primordial power spectrum in 20 steps in $\log k$ to $k\leq 0.5h$Mpc$^{-1}$ can be determined to $\sim 16%$ accuracy for $k\sim 0.01h$Mpc$^{-1}$, and to $\sim 1%$ accuracy for $k\sim 0.1h$Mpc$^{-1}$. The uncertainty in the primordial power spectrum increases by a factor up to 3 on small scales if we solve simultaneously for the dimensionless Hubble constant $h$, the cosmological constant ${\Lambda}$, the baryon fraction $\Omega_b$, the reionization optical depth $\tau_{ri}$, and the effective bias between the matter density field and the redshift space galaxy density field $b_{\it eff}$. Alternately, if we restrict $A_S^2(k)$ to be a power law, we find that inclusion of the SDSS data breaks the degeneracy between the amplitude of the power spectrum and the optical depth inherent in the MAP data, significantly reduces the uncertainties in the determination of the matter density and the cosmological constant, and allows a determination of the galaxy bias parameter. Thus, combining the MAP and SDSS data allows the independent measurement of important cosmological parameters, and a measurement of the primordial power spectrum independent of inflationary models, giving us valuable information on physics in the early Universe, and providing clues to the correct inflationary model.

title: White paper report on using nuclear reactors to search for a value of theta13
abstract: There has been superb progress in understanding the neutrino sector of elementary particle physics in the past few years. It is now widely recognized that the possibility exists for a rich program of measuring CP violation and matter effects in future accelerator {nu} experiments, which has led to intense efforts to consider new programs at neutrino superbeams, off-axis detectors, neutrino factories and beta beams. However, the possibility of measuring CP violation can be fulfilled only if the value of the neutrino mixing parameter {theta}{sub 13} is such that sin{sup 2} (2{theta}{sub 13}) greater than or equal to on the order of 0.01. The authors of this white paper are an International Working Group of physicists who believe that a timely new experiment at a nuclear reactor sensitive to the neutrino mixing parameter {theta}{sub 13} in this range has a great opportunity for an exciting discovery, a non-zero value to {theta}{sub 13}. This would be a compelling next step of this program. We are studying possible new reactor experiments at a variety of sites around the world, and we have collaborated to prepare this document to advocate this idea and describe some of the issues that are involved.