  We investigate the three-point functions of the weak lensing cosmic shear,
using both analytic methods and numerical results from N-body simulations. The
analytic model, an isolated dark matter halo with a powerlaw profile chosen to
fit the effective index at the scale probed, can be used to understand the
basic properties of the eight three-point functions observed in simulations. We
use this model to construct a single three-point function estimator that
"optimally" combines the eight three-point functions. This new estimator is an
alternative to Map statistics and provides up to a factor of two improvement in
signal to noise compared to previously used combinations of cosmic shear
three-point functions.
