Optimization of spectroscopic surveys for testing non-Gaussianity

Abstract

We investigate optimization strategies to measure primordial non-Gaussianity with future spectroscopic surveys. We forecast measurements coming from the 3D galaxy power spectrum and compute constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity parameters f_NL and n_NG. After studying the dependence on those parameters upon survey specifications such as redshift range, area, number density, we assume a reference mock survey and investigate the trade-off between number density and area surveyed. We then define the observational requirements to reach the detection of f_NL of order 1. Our results show that while power spectrum constraints on non-Gaussianity from future spectroscopic surveys can be competitive with current CMB limits, measurements from higher-order statistics will be needed to reach a sub unity precision in the measurements of the non-Gaussianity parameter f_NL.