CLOSE TRIPLE APPROACHES AND ESCAPE IN THE 3-BODY PROBLEM

We have studied a total of 5000 close triple approaches resulting in e scape, for equal-mass systems with zero initial velocities. Escape is shown to take place in the majority of the cases after a 'fly-by' clos e triple approach when the escaper passes near the centre of mass alon g an almost straight-line orbit. A number of configurational and kinem atical parameters are introduced in order to characterize the triple a pproach. The distributions of these parameters are investigated. A com parison with 831 examples in the vicinity of the so-called Pythagorean problem is carried out. We find that the general features of close tr iple approaches which result in escape are the same for both types of systems.