The effect of primordial non-Gaussianity on halo bias

TL;DR

This paper derives an analytical expression for how primordial non-Gaussianity influences the scale-dependent bias of dark matter halos, aiding interpretation of upcoming large-scale structure surveys.

Contribution

It extends existing Gaussian-based clustering models to non-Gaussian initial conditions using peak theory, providing a new analytic formula for halo bias.

Findings

Derived an analytic halo bias formula for non-Gaussian initial conditions.

The formula depends on scale, mass, and redshift, applicable to inflationary models.

Supports analysis of large galaxy and cluster survey data.

Abstract

It has long been known how to analytically relate the clustering properties of the collapsed structures (halos) to those of the underlying dark matter distribution for Gaussian initial conditions. Here we apply the same approach to physically motivated non-Gaussian models. The techniques we use were developed in the 1980s to deal with the clustering of peaks of non-Gaussian density fields. The description of the clustering of halos for non-Gaussian initial conditions has recently received renewed interest, motivated by the forthcoming large galaxy and cluster surveys. For inflationary-motivated non-Gaussianites, we find an analytic expression for the halo bias as a function of scale, mass and redshift, employing only the approximations of high-peaks and large separations.