  We have investigated rovibronic levels of the strongly mixed
$b^3\Pi_1-c^3\Sigma^+_1-B^1\Pi_1$ states [the 2(1), 3(1), and 4(1) states in
Hund's case (c) notation] of $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs in the energy range of
13950$-$14200 cm$^{-1}$ using short-range photoassociation (PA). For selected
PA states, vibrational and rotational branching in the $X^1\Sigma^+$ state have
been investigated using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization and depletion
spectroscopy. Efficient production of $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules in the
rovibronic ground state $X^1\Sigma^+ (v=0, J=0)$, at up to $\sim$1$\times 10^4$
molecules/s, has been achieved.

Atomic Physics