Towards photoassociation processes of ultracold rubidium trimers

We theoretically investigate the prospects for photoassociation (PA) of Rb$_3$, in particular at close range. provide an overview accessible states and possible transitions. The major focus is placed on calculation equilibrium structures, survey spin-orbit effects investigation transition dipole moments. Furthermore we discuss Franck-Condon overlaps special aspects trimers including (pseudo) Jahn-Teller effect resulting topology adiabatic potential-energy surfaces. With this identify concrete suitable PA transitions to potentially produce long-lived trimer bound states. Calculations are performed using multireference configuration-interaction method together with a large-core effective core potential core-polarization large uncontracted even-tempered basis set.