Euclid : Field-level inference of primordial non-Gaussianity and cosmic initial conditions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A primary target of the Euclid space mission is to constrain early-universe physics by searching for deviations from a primordial Gaussian random field. A significant detection of primordial non-Gaussianity would rule out the simplest models of cosmic inflation and transform our understanding of the origin of the Universe. This paper forecasts how well field-level inference of galaxy redshift surveys can constrain the amplitude of local primordial non-Gaussianity, f NL local , within a Bayesian hierarchical framework, in the upcoming Euclid data. We designed and simulated mock datasets and performed Markov chain Monte Carlo analyses using a full-field forward modelling approach. By including the formation history of the cosmic matter field in the analysis, the method takes into account all available probes of primordial non-Gaussianity, and goes beyond statistical summary estimators of f NL local . Probes include, for example, two-point and higher-order statistics, peculiar velocity fields, and scale-dependent galaxy biases. Furthermore, the method simultaneously handles systematic survey effects, such as selection effects, survey geometries, and galaxy biases. The forecast shows that, using simulated Euclid data, the method can achieve a precision of σ ( f NL local ) = 2.6 (68.3% confidence level), assuming a grid resolution of Δ L = 31.25 h −1 Mpc and a cut-off scale of k NF = 0.1 h Mpc −1 . We also provide data products, including realistic simulations with non-zero values of f NL local and maps of adiabatic curvature fluctuations. The results underscore the feasibility and advantages of field-level inference to constrain f NL local in galaxy redshift surveys. Our approach consistently captures all the information available in the large-scale structure to constrain f NL local , and resolves the degeneracy between early-universe physics and late-time gravitational effects, while mitigating the impact of systematic and observational effects.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: A. Andrews, J. Jasche, G. Lavaux, F. Leclercq, F. Finelli, Y. Akrami, M. Ballardini, D. Karagiannis, J. Valiviita, N. Bartolo, G. Cañas-Herrera, S. Casas, B. R. Granett, F. Pace, D. Paoletti, N. Porqueres, Z. Sakr, D. Sapone, N. Aghanim, A. Amara, S. Andreon, C. Baccigalupi, M. Baldi, S. Bardelli, D. Bonino, E. Branchini, M. Brescia, J. Brinchmann, S. Camera, V. Capobianco, C. Carbone, J. Carretero, M. Castellano, G. Castignani, S. Cavuoti, A. Cimatti, C. Colodro-Conde, G. Congedo, C. J. Conselice, L. Conversi, Y. Copin, F. Courbin, H. M. Courtois, A. Da Silva, H. Degaudenzi, G. De Lucia, A. M. Di Giorgio, J. Dinis, F. Dubath, C. A. J. Duncan, X. Dupac, S. Dusini, M. Farina, S. Farrens, F. Faustini, S. Ferriol, M. Frailis, E. Franceschi, S. Galeotta, B. Gillis, C. Giocoli, P. Gómez-Alvarez, A. Grazian, F. Grupp, S. V. H. Haugan, W. Holmes, F. Hormuth, A. Hornstrup, P. Hudelot, S. Ilić, K. Jahnke, M. Jhabvala, B. Joachimi, E. Keihänen, S. Kermiche, A. Kiessling, B. Kubik, M. Kunz, H. Kurki-Suonio, S. Ligori, P. B. Lilje, V. Lindholm, I. Lloro, E. Maiorano, O. Mansutti, O. Marggraf, K. Markovic, M. Martinelli, N. Martinet, F. Marulli, R. Massey, E. Medinaceli, S. Mei, Y. Mellier, M. Meneghetti, E. Merlin, G. Meylan, M. Moresco, L. Moscardini, C. Neissner, S.-M. Niemi, J. W. Nightingale, C. Padilla, S. Paltani, F. Pasian, K. Pedersen, V. Pettorino, S. Pires, G. Polenta, M. Poncet, L. A. Popa, L. Pozzetti, F. Raison, R. Rebolo, A. Renzi, J. Rhodes, G. Riccio, E. Romelli, M. Roncarelli, R. Saglia, A. G. Sánchez, B. Sartoris, M. Schirmer, P. Schneider, T. Schrabback, A. Secroun, E. Sefusatti, S. Serrano, C. Sirignano, G. Sirri, L. Stanco, J. Steinwagner, P. Tallada-Crespí, A. N. Taylor, I. Tereno, R. Toledo-Moreo, F. Torradeflot, I. Tutusaus, L. Valenziano, T. Vassallo, G. Verdoes Kleijn, A. Veropalumbo, Y. Wang, J. Weller, G. Zamorani, E. Zucca, C. Burigana, V. Scottez, A. Spurio Mancini, M. Viel
Institutions: Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bologna, Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio, National Institute for Astrophysics, Stockholm University, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Física Teórica, Case Western Reserve University, University of Ferrara, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Ferrara, Queen Mary University of London, University of the Western Cape, Helsinki Institute of Physics, University of Padua, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Leiden University, European Space Agency, European Space Research and Technology Centre, University of Portsmouth, RWTH Aachen University, Brera Astronomical Observatory, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Torino, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, University of Turin, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, CEA Paris-Saclay - Etablissement de Saclay, Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Saint Joseph University, Heidelberg University, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université de Toulouse, University of Chile, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, University of Surrey, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste Astronomical Observatory, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, University of Bologna, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova, University of Genoa, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli, University of Naples Federico II, Universidade do Porto, Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Port d'Informació Científica, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Astronomical Observatory of Rome, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Royal Observatory, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, European Space Astronomy Centre, European Space Research Institute, Lyon 1 Université, Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules, Institut de Physique des 2 Infinis de Lyon, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Institut de Ciències del Cosmos, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Universitat de Barcelona, University of Lisbon, University of Geneva, Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology, Université Paris Cité, Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, University of Oslo, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Technical University of Denmark, Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Goddard Space Flight Center, University College London, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre de physique des particules de Marseille, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, University of Bonn, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I, Durham University, Institute for High Energy Physics, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Newcastle University, University of Copenhagen, Centre National d'Études Spatiales, Universidad de La Laguna, Universität Innsbruck, Institute of Space Sciences, Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, University of Groningen, California Institute of Technology, Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Istituto di Radioastronomia di Bologna, Université Catholique de Lille, University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, Fondazione ICSC Centro Nazionale di Ricerca in High Performance Computing, Big Data e Quantum Computing
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Wenner-Gren Stiftelserna, Dipartimenti di Eccellenza, European Space Agency, Academy of Finland, Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Vetenskapsrådet, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Agenția Spațială Română, Stockholms Universitet, Norsk Romsenter, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
Awards: G1673643808, G1713336803, G1832689164, Deciphering the Dynamics of Cosmic Structure, G2852407501, Para além de Lambda, G3321450376, G3556731030, G3651252388, G5329322851, Euclid Cosmology Mission - Mapping the dark universe, G596358959, G6520279273, G7039198937, G712881263, G7437881661, G796431723, NAISS
OpenAlex ID: W7139920730