  We explore possible pathways for the creation of ultracold polar NaK
molecules in their absolute electronic and rovibrational ground state starting
from ultracold Feshbach molecules. In particular, we present a multi-channel
analysis of the electronic ground and K(4p)+Na(3s) excited state manifold of
NaK, analyze the spin character of both the Feshbach molecular state and the
electronically excited intermediate states and discuss possible coherent
two-photon transfer paths from Feshbach molecules to rovibronic ground state
molecules. The theoretical study is complemented by the demonstration of STIRAP
transfer from the X^1\Sigma^+ (v=0) state to the a^3\Sigma^+ manifold on a
molecular beam experiment.
