Speaker
Description
Primordial Gravitational Waves (PGWs) are a key prediction of inflation, and efforts are ongoing to detect them through CMB polarization patterns and direct interferometric detection. In this talk, I will present a novel approach to probing PGWs through their impact on Large-Scale Structure.
PGWs are often assumed to have a negligible effect on structure formation, but in our study, we show that they can source scalar perturbations at second order. These "tensor-induced scalar modes" emerge upon horizon entry, introducing corrections to the matter density contrast that could leave detectable imprints on the matter power spectrum. This effect also leads to an intrinsic source of non-Gaussianity in the density field, providing a unique observational signature. I will discuss how different PGW power spectra shape this imprint and assess its potential detectability in future galaxy surveys like Euclid and SKA.
