Chaotic scattering on a double well: Periodic orbits, symbolic dynamics, and scaling

We investigate classical scattering of particles by a double-well potential. Irregularity in the scattering functions, such as scattering angle and escape time, appears when the collision energy is lowered below a threshold value. This threshold is closely related to the appearance of periodic orbits with energies above the potential maxima. We study the scattering as a function of the energy and impact parameter. In this initial parameter space the scattering functions consist of regular regions interlaced with chaotic rivers. A symbolic dynamics has been developed to organize these structures and used to reveal their scaling properties.