We analyze photoassociation theoretically by treating the dissociation continuum of a molecule as a quasicontinuum (QC) of discrete states. In this manner, free-bound transitions are reduced to a few-level problem. The correct continuum limit is deduced from an explicit analysis of the density of QC states. Besides giving the usual photoassociation rate, the QC model facilitates the analysis of the steady-state molecular yield. Moreover, complications such as velocity redistribution and line broadening due to atom-atom collisions may be treated basically in the same way as in connection with the customary two-level atom. Next we adapt the standard three-level quantum optics to describe free-bound-bound photoassociation for both continuous-wave and pulsed two-color excitation. For a quantum degenerate gas of atoms, a proper two-photon resonant scheme may transform atoms to ground state molecules with near-unit efficiency even in the presence of spontaneous losses from the intermediate state.

• Received 22 December 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.60.3174