# Modeling the three-point correlation function

## TL;DR

This paper uses high-resolution cosmological simulations to predict the galaxy three-point correlation function, examining its dependence on galaxy luminosity and color, and testing simple bias models against observations.

## Contribution

It provides new simulation-based predictions for the galaxy 3PCF, including effects of luminosity and color, and assesses the effectiveness of local bias models.

## Key findings

- Reduced 3PCF varies with luminosity and color.
- Simulation results align with SDSS and 2dFGRS measurements.
- Simple bias models can reasonably fit the simulated 3PCF.

## Abstract

We present new predictions for the galaxy three-point correlation function (3PCF) using high-resolution dissipationless cosmological simulations of a flat LCDM Universe which resolve galaxy-size halos and subhalos. We create realistic mock galaxy catalogs by assigning luminosities and colors to dark matter halos and subhalos, and we measure the reduced 3PCF as a function of luminosity and color in both real and redshift space. As galaxy luminosity and color are varied, we find small differences in the amplitude and shape dependence of the reduced 3PCF, at a level qualitatively consistent with recent measurements from the SDSS and 2dFGRS. We confirm that discrepancies between previous 3PCF measurements can be explained in part by differences in binning choices. We explore the degree to which a simple local bias model can fit the simulated 3PCF. The agreement between the model predictions and galaxy 3PCF measurements lends further credence to the straightforward association of galaxies with CDM halos and subhalos.