Estimate of the cosmological bispectrum from the MAXIMA-1 cosmic microwave background map
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
88
Journal Issue
24
Pages
2413021-2413024
Date Issued
2002
Author(s)
Santos, M.G.
Abstract
We use the measurement of the cosmic microwave background taken during the MAXIMA-1 flight to estimate the bispectrum of cosmological perturbations. We propose an estimator for the bispectrum that is appropriate in the flat sky approximation, apply it to the MAXIMA-1 data, and evaluate errors using bootstrap methods. We compare the estimated value with what would be expected if the sky signal were Gaussian and find that it is indeed consistent, with a chi(2) per degree of freedom of approximately unity. This measurement places constraints on models of inflation.
SDGs
Type
journal article