  We apply the inverse geometric optimization technique to generate an optimal
and robust stimulated Raman exact passage (STIREP) considering the loss of the
upper state as a characterization parameter. Control fields temporal shapes
that are optimal with respect to pulse area, energy, and duration, are found to
form a simple sequence with a combination of intuitively (near the beginning
and the end) and counter-intuitively ordered pulse pairs. The resulting
dynamics produces a loss which is about a third of that of the non-robust
optimal STIREP. Alternative optimal solutions featuring lower losses, larger
pulse areas, and fully counter-intuitive pulse sequences are derived.
