Third-Order Weak Lensing as a Bridge to Simulation-Based Inference

Explore advanced cosmological analysis techniques in this 15-minute conference lecture that examines third-order weak lensing statistics as a pathway to simulation-based inference methods. Learn how higher-order shear statistics capture additional cosmological information beyond traditional two-point statistics on non-linear scales, and discover their unique responses to intrinsic alignments and baryonic effects that provide valuable consistency checks for cosmological models. Review recent progress in modeling and measuring third-order cosmic shear, including developments in emulator-based bispectrum predictions, advanced treatments of intrinsic alignments and baryonic effects, and efficient estimators for three-point functions. Examine current observational constraints from major surveys including KiDS, DES, and HSC, and understand how these results inform our understanding of cosmic structure formation. Discover why third-order statistics represent an ideal application for simulation-based inference approaches, given their non-Gaussian likelihoods and the existing reliance on simulations for covariance and systematics modeling. Investigate the opportunities and challenges of combining simulation-based inference with higher-order lensing statistics as a complementary approach to field-level inference in cosmology.