Chaotic scattering in the restricted three-body problem II. Small mass parameters

We study the scattering motion of the planar restricted three-body problem for small mass parameters mu. We consider the symmetric periodic orbits of this system with mu = 0 that collide with the singularity together with the circular and parabolic solutions of the Kepler problem. These divide the p arameter space in a natural way and characterize the main features of the s cattering problem for small non-vanishing mu. Indeed, continuation of these orbits yields the primitive periodic orbits of the system for small mu. Fo r different regions of the parameter space, we present scattering functions and discuss the structure of the chaotic saddle. We show that for mu < mu( c) and any Jacobi integral there exist departures from hyperbolicity due to regions of stable motion in phase space. Numerical bounds for mu(c) are gi ven.