Primordial non-Gaussianities in general modified gravitational models of
  inflation
  We compute the three-point correlation function of primordial scalar density
perturbations in a general single-field inflationary scenario, where a scalar
field phi has a direct coupling with the Ricci scalar R and the Gauss-Bonnet
term GB. Our analysis also covers the models in which the Lagrangian includes a
function non-linear in the field kinetic energy X=-(nabla phi)^2/2, and a
Galileon-type field self-interaction G(phi, X)*(Box phi), where G is a function
of phi and X. We provide a general analytic formula for the equilateral
non-Gaussianity parameter f_{NL}^{equil} associated with the bispectrum of
curvature perturbations. A quasi de Sitter approximation in terms of
slow-variation parameters allows us to derive a simplified form of
f_{NL}^{equil} convenient to constrain various inflation models
observationally. If the propagation speed of the scalar perturbations is much
smaller than the speed of light, the Gauss-Bonnet term as well as the
Galileon-type field self-interaction can give rise to large non-Gaussianities
testable in future observations. We also show that, in Brans-Dicke theory with
a field potential (including f(R) gravity), f_{NL}^{equil} is of the order of
slow-roll parameters as in standard inflation driven by a minimally coupled
scalar field.
