Optimized numerical evolution of perturbations across sharp background trajectory turns in multifield inflation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Features in the primordial power spectrum require numerical methods that are both accurate and scalable across the wide class of multifield inflationary models that produce them. Sharp turns in the background trajectories, induced by either potential or geometric effects, render these computations particularly challenging. In this work, we introduce an efficient method for evolving primordial scalar fluctuations, requiring time steps comparable to those used for the background evolution. We demonstrate that the method accurately tracks perturbations through rapidly turning trajectories in arbitrary field-space geometries, enabling systematic exploration of spectral features across diverse multifield scenarios. Our approach scales robustly to large numbers of degrees of freedom, providing a reliable computational framework for probing regimes that significantly depart from slow-roll or slow-turn dynamics.
Institutions: Simon Fraser University, National University of Engineering
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
Awards: G1353701275, G2924355061
OpenAlex ID: W7147233340