We present the generalization of the Landau-Zener model for a constant coupling of a finite duration. The exact evolution matrix is expressed in terms of sums of by-products of parabolic cylinder functions estimated at the turn-on time and at the turn-off time of the coupling. Various approximations in terms of simpler functions are derived and applied to several physically distinct cases. They allow us to study the dependence of the transition probability on the interaction parameters: coupling strength, coupling duration, and detuning slope. Furthermore, the analytic approximations reveal the effects of the finite coupling duration as well as those caused by adding a constant detuning shift, absence of a level crossing, turn-on time or turn-off time near the crossing (‘‘half crossing’’), turn-on time and turn-off time near the crossing (‘‘nonsubstantial crossing’’). The results are used to obtain analytic approximations to the time evolution in the original Landau-Zener model. Furthermore, following related studies on other models, we define the Landau-Zener class of models that, along with the finite Landau-Zener model presented in this work, contains an infinite number of members that give the same transition probability. Comparison of this class to the Allen-Eberly class shows that the two classes contain members with the same coupling but different detuning chirps as well as members with the same chirp but different couplings. The former case reveals chirp effects while the latter demonstrates shape effects. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

• Received 11 January 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.53.4288