The pseudopotential treatment used so far for neutral species is exten
ded to the case of the singly charged calcium ion perturbed by helium
and neon atoms, The calculations have been performed for the adiabatic
potentials and dipole transition moments in dependence on internuclea
r separation. Spin-orbit coupling is considered in a semi-empirical ma
nner following the 'atoms-in-molecules' model. The results are discuss
ed in the context of recent experiments on trapping and laser cooling
of Ca+ ions in the presence of background gases.