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Strong-coupling limit in cold-molecule formation via photoassociation or Feshbach resonance through Nikitin exponential resonance crossing

The strong-coupling limit of molecule formation in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate via two-mode one-color photoassociation or sweep across a Feshbach resonance is examined using a basic nonlinear time-dependent two-state model. For the general class of term-crossing models with constant coupling, a common strategy for attacking the problem is developed based on the reduction of the initial system of semiclassical equations for atom-molecule amplitudes to a third order nonlinear differential equation for the molecular state probability. This equation provides deriving exact solution for a class of periodic level-crossing models. These models reveal much in common with the Rabi problem. Discussing the strong-coupling limit for the general case of variable detuning, the equation is further truncated to a limit first-order nonlinear equation. Using this equation, the strong nonlinearity regime for the first Nikitin exponential-crossing model is analyzed and accurate asymptotic expressions for the nonlinear transition probability to the molecular state are derived. It is shown that, because of a finite final detuning involved, this model displays essential deviations from the Landau-Zener behavior. In particular, it is shown that in the limit of strong coupling the final conversion probability tends to 1/6. Thus, in this case the strong interaction limit is not optimal for molecule formation. We have found that if optimal field intensity is applied the molecular probability is increased up to 1/4 (i.e., the half of the initial atomic population).